And your gambling a LOT of $ on trying something out, via purchasing a property to try the waters.     

I would take the gamble that rates will fall on their own over the next 3 years and live with the result. 

In some cases, gross income can include recurring capital gains or unrealized income, winnings from a day of gambling, rental income, and sometimes even interest earned on retirement accounts.

Most who gamble to such do not. 

Stay Renting:Pros:We have a great deal on rent ($3,200 total, $1,600 each), which allows us to save, stay liquid and focus on growing the rental portfolio.We love the apartment.Cons:We’ll likely need to move in a year, and comparable places are around $4,000/month.I’m not thrilled about moving, and it feels like we’re just delaying the inevitable.Not getting any appreciation.I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Stay Renting:Pros:We have a great deal on rent ($3,200 total, $1,600 each), which allows us to save, stay liquid and focus on growing the rental portfolio.We love the apartment.Cons:We’ll likely need to move in a year, and comparable places are around $4,000/month.I’m not thrilled about moving, and it feels like we’re just delaying the inevitable.Not getting any appreciation.I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I would be thrilled to take you up on your kind offers to speak in person, so I'll DM you.Thanks again!

I'm thrilled to begin my journey into buying short-term rental properties.

I'm thrilled to hear about your passion for multi-family investing.

Great work, and I’m sure the investor was thrilled with that outcome!