Premium RE, high COC return like a luxury STR or small balance multi family could be a good partial anchor. 

@Michael KattouahOne of the few things that I've learned in college that has actually stuck with me is that life is an income statement game, not a balance sheet game.I'll pay you $100,000,000 for a $300,000 house if you let me pay you $1,000 a month for the next 8,334 years.

Sellers are still nuts.Just technically speaking... around 6 months inventory is considered a balanced market, less than 6 months is a sellers market and more than 6 is a buyers market. 

For example: If your credit limit is $500, you want to carry a balance of $45.00.With this $45 balance would you never pay it off?

Deals are about balancing the Risk and Reward for investors.

Additionally, I'd appreciate any tips on balancing cost-effectiveness with durability.

You can’t really do a cash out refi because that would reset the entire loan balance around 7%.

The podcast you mention is referencing (i) Freddie Mac Small Balance Loans ("SBL"), and (ii) Fannie Mae Small Loans, which are essentially government-backed CMBS loans. 

Question: My 94-year-old father-in-law in Law is very well-balanced in assets .

, The builder told me that as long as my HELOC is zero balance on closing that will be okay, but I did not ask them if it will drastically lower my credit in case they will pull again for the third time with the builder.