I have a replacement property picked out already and an accepted offer on it.

However, the agreement to accept monthly payments may be specific to the owner himself.  

If you just hire an agent, most of them are going to charge a one-month Leasing Fee because they offer 50% of it to an agent that brings them an acceptable tenant. 

But, due to being self-employed, it is extremely difficult to get accepted for any kind of FHA loan.

@Andrew Steffens what draws vacationers to Tampa when it’s 90 degrees June-Sept.?

But you are effectively putting yourself into more debtThere is good debt, and bad debtStudent loans are IMO bad debt - yes you get a degree that gives you a good paying job, but it costs you money every month to hold that debtReal Estate debt if used properly can be good debt.

Getting to point #3 on this, I think this happens artificially to a degree due to the amount of agents withholding properties in Q4 of 2023 because of seasonality.

And sometimes they dont care too much about how they pay in commission (to a certain degree) they just want out.

The Catskills area is in deed very hot, I have sent an offer this week for $50k above asking price for a great Turnkey STR just two days on the market and the seller already accepted an offer. 

For example, I mention that every adult must pay a $30 application fee, pass my credit/criminal background, make a combined income of 3x the rent, and whether or not the property accepts pets.