Overall the sentiment was very positive and so wanted to get a second/third/fourth opinion on those folks from all of you out there who have first hand experience with him personally and/or GC as a whole.

For our first deal, the raise took us longer than anticipated (due to the uncertainty in the market and real time changes happening with debt/interest rates/investor sentiment).

I also agree with your sentiments, and realistically is probably what I'll end up doing.

Was hoping to get people's sentiment on whether this is really a good time to buy in this market or maybe hold off for a few months to wait for the prices to settle down a bit (hopefully)?

However, you have to gauge the STR sentiment as if they get banned or limited that could significantly affect your plans and cash flow.Mountain areas can have good year round use also. 

Usually, the sentiment is the same: buy correctly & be conservative with your estimates.

But my sentiment is that if government wants to make housing a right, which is reasonable, then government should build and manage the housing for those who are unable or unwilling to pay, as opposed to nationalizing the housing stock by way of rent control. 

If I'm the one picking the lender and this comes up, then I view it my responsibility to credit back the second appraisal fee at closing, but I know that to be a somewhat uncommon sentiment in the mortgage community, so budget for a 2nd appraisal fee juuuust in case. 

I completely understand your sentimental attachment to your primary residence, that's totally normal. 

Wayne has been steadily appreciating over the last few years, I know people out there and the sentiment from them is it is a city on the rise.