Despite wanting to handle it a few other ways I reached a small cash settlement with him to drop it.

I see a ton of sellers and listing agents overpricing homes and end up with big "price drops" back to reality. 

9/10 the lender will drop their comp to close on it and save the deal.

WHEN (yes I mean WHEN not if because over 30+yrs it happens many times) when the market has a drop for whatever reason be it a bad election, war tensions, someone sneezed on there terminal and HFT's went bazerk selling, whatever the cause, WHEN the market drops you get a "Margin CALL" and next thing ya know there not just selling off those leveraged positions BUT there selling em off in the drop, at the lowest price, amplifying losses, all those returns going out the window in moments.     

.- I was scared to drop out of law school In 2021 and go all in on REI, I’m super happy with my decision.Now, whenever I’m scared/nervous, I take that as a sign that I should probably do it, and that it’s room for growth.Yes, sometimes it will be a mistake, but that’s how you learn.4) Value Relationships over everythingGood relationships will bring you more joy and take you farther than being selfish and/or greedy.What principles do you live by?

You avoid the tax hit, and still get the use of 75% of the equity if you do a cash out refi - (but high interest rates sort of play against that to some degree presently… but you could alway refi again down the line if rates dropped.  

This is rarely an issue provided you still perform.The raising money part is more complex.

That might cause you unnecessary stress and lead to dropped balls for your clients. 

I am an engineer who works out of his basement everyday and rarely is on the phone.

I think its rare you can take a model you're doing in this are or product and just move it somewhere else or on to some other product.To me, If you have a niche that works and you're good at it and the numbers are strong,  I believe you should put everything you have into that business model and grow it and grow it fast while the getting is good.