You are suffering from unsatisfaction and FOMO, but keeping your W2 is the best strategy for long-term wealth because you are lendable and earning the whole time.

In the short term, if your property is still standing and others are heavily damaged, prices could go up due to reduced supply—there are just fewer homes available that aren’t in need of repair.

Diversify Your PortfolioInvesting in multiple markets reduces your risk.

I earned good money as a server and simply used it to go on my next adventure and that was all I really needed.

Competition is reduced as most retail (non-investor) buyers tend to hold off until spring, given the challenges of moving during the winter.

Those are more realistic table setters for you to begin your journey if you couple that with podcasts and in-person meetups so you can learn from real investors and their journeys.To invest, you will always need to be earning more money so you don't want to start your journey thinking you can do it with no money.

It is an interesting time obviously with an election and rates coming down and potentially a good amount of inventory being built but as the fall and winter come fewer people who put existing homes on the market which reduces competition for those first-time home buyers.

Not sure why tax rate matters when net passive earnings is the more important figure.

The goal is to earn the most money, not do something the cheapest way possible.

. ;-) Asking tough questions reduces their revenue.