I’d love to take advantage of a “traditional” mortgage (or even FHA?)

STRs in Non-Traditional MarketsShort-term rentals in areas near universities or event venues are gaining popularity.

That can hurt your cash flow and could equate to the same as a traditional long term hold without the headache and management.I'm not saying don't do it, I'm saying you have to look at all options. 

Creative & Seller Financing OverviewSeller financing allows the seller to act as the lender, enabling you to purchase without traditional bank involvement.

From the sentiment of your post it seems like you're viewing the buyers as strictly investors when they may lean more towards traditional homeowners looking for a quality of life improvement or an improvement on their current financial situation today.Let's say the buyer pays 465k and has a 5% interest rate.

Examples might include areas in the Midwest, Southeast, or Sunbelt regions.Multifamily Properties: Consider duplexes, triplexes, or small apartment buildings to increase unit count and spread risk across multiple tenants.Short-Term Rentals: If you’re comfortable with the management requirements, STRs in vacation or business travel markets can offer significantly higher cash flow potential than traditional rentals.Value-Add Properties: Look for opportunities to buy undervalued properties where you can force appreciation through renovations or better management.Decision FrameworkRun the Numbers: Compare the projected cash flow, equity growth, and tax implications of selling versus holding with a refinance or HELOC.

This is a key difference from traditional buyer agency, where the agent keeps this commission.3.

This included some landmark deals including Rockefeller Center’s $3.5B loan and Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau $1.2B refinancingAlternative lenders filling traditional banking gaps with short-term solutions which has already begun a cycle of consolidation that will likely continue and accelerate in 2025The Office Sector Divide:CBD property values are down 50.7% from 2021 peaksClass A office properties seem to be in their own vacuum of prosperity with trophy properties commanding premium rents ($100+ PSF nationally, up to $247 in top markets) with strong occupancyHybrid work continues impacting older building valuations which have not faired as well, but this may begin to rebalance as more companies are instituting mandates to return to physical officesChallenges & Opportunities:$1 trillion in loans maturing by 2026Interest rates up from 3.5% (2021) to 6.74% (2024)Experts such as AEW’s Michael Acton and Blackstone’s Nadeem Meghji see the best entry point in the last 15–20 years and we agreeMarket Outlook:Current market conditions present unique opportunities, with inflation-adjusted prices at historic lows and yields at decade highs.

Buying properties through non traditional channels.  4.

Each potential buyer has come to their own conclusion that it would be too much hassle and risk to manage in this fashion vs a traditional rental even though the average cap rate in our area has been half that at best.