How long until banks soften their grip on their cash?

You can (optionally) reduce your normal contribtions into your 401K to the minimum needed to still receive your company match (usually ~4-6%) to soften the burden of the loan repayments which are typically deducted from your paycheck.

Maybe just raise the rents to the max allowed in the area to help soften the grief factor. and do not give her 6 months same rent. 

The market is softening a bit as homes are sitting longer on the market, many are coming back from failed buyer financing, and appraisals keep coming in lower than expected in general.

I probably would have a loss as well since the real estate market has softened.

……the water softener was constantly cycling causing insane water and salt use.

God forbid if you want to get out when the market softens. 

Got no furnaces, central air, water softeners, snow removal, hail insurance,

If you start mortgaging your existing properties to buy more you can have problems when the economy softens.

A market softening, as far as prices, is noticeable, but we are far away from housing crisis.