That said, if you can comfortably handle the additional down payment and monthly payment consequences of a higher purchase price (and the lenders agree), and you have a few different good options with the property then it could be a wise investment.By a few good options . . . you want to have some exit strategy other than STR that will work in case the something happens to make STR uncouth in your area. 

More competition > more offers > more bidding wars driving higher prices. 

I think the only way out right now is higher wages that can absorb higher mortgages.

The asking price is on the higher side and I am trying to figure out what is a lower side reasonable offer price. 8 br, 4 bath, basement (not finished, laundry). 0.5 miles from Temple.

And yes, sometimes you have to pivot depending on other parts of your portfolio.The issue is that a flip is higher end finishes and amenities than a long-term rental so you could overdo the market if you have to rent it and get less of a return for the finishes.

There are a bunch of good choices IMHO.We don't have leather but all our surfaces are super durable because they are higher end sofas and chairs.The 3 main couches are a pair of Basset and a La-Z-Boy.

Higher the risk, the higher that % will be. 

There's a high chance that you are feeling FOMO from the returns in public markets, sell your houses for a loss, pile into stocks, and then see mediocre performance while real estate heads back higher again.I see this, and similar actions, play out over and over.Personally, I'd stick with the real estate rather than selling it.

Location of accountant: some accountants will charge more if they’re in a higher priced locationGeneralist vs specialist: if you want someone real estate specific, it will likely cost more.

Once you have REPS the distinction between passive income (or losses) and active income (W2) disappears and all those tax losses you have been banking can be applied to the W2.Good luck