As much as I'd love to turn the clock back and start my real estate investing in my 30's or 40's, I'm grateful for what I have, and it helped soften my transition from W-2 (back) to self-employment when I was a casualty of the pandemic layoffs.I got my license the 1st time in 2007, but obligations at the time, and a bankruptcy due to a failed business in 2008 forced me into a relocation and W-2 employment.

I have made a bunch of lowball offers in the last month and half because our market is starting to soften - so the junk that was selling at crazy prices, even thought it was junk, is starting to sit and linger on the market. 

To soften the down payment on the loan you can always ask a seller for cash back at closing towards closing cost.  

Then once the market softens buy again.

I for one think the market will soften slightly but not free fall like it was before.

Then after cashing out, even if that indicator of a softening market or prices got me to get out of the last deal, the courthouse steps still may be offering enough value to get back in again.

@Alissa Rodman, a nifty little twist on this that softens risk if you can pull it off is to buy the model home of the builder if available and do a lease back to them.

If I have a bunch of equity now, do I cash out the equity and wait it out with cash the next couple years expecting MFR values to soften or is that a huge risk because MFR values could hold/continue to climb as inflation could affect rents?

Are things softening in the Bay Area, and if so, are you changing/modifying any of your strategy because of it?

It seems like rents have softened lately but depending on your cost of construction, it could pencil out either way.