For the 10 year period spanning December 2014-2024, single-family prices in Austin nearly doubled, yielding an annualized appreciation rate of ~9.4% in that period.With inflation close to its 2% target and an uptick in the labor market, The Federal Reserve may be taking a break from rate cuts.

That way, you keep more in reserves and have more to put towards your next house hack.

If you convert it to a rental and sell later, you may owe capital gains tax + depreciation recapture, unless using a 1031 exchange to defer taxes by reinvesting in multifamily.Leveraging $100K in equity via HELOC or cash-out refinance can help fund the next deal, but ensure rental cash flow covers debt, expenses, and reserves.

The down fall is a Heloc can "Never" be used as an asset or for PITI reserves required when buying a new Primary or investment property.A heloc can also cause major issues with credit and one slight hiccup or missed payment the bank or lender who is holding the Heloc can close or reduce your line of credit.

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

Prioritize properties with rental potential, plan for reserves and tenant strategies, and stay patient as you network and learn.

Start small, build a reserve fund, and work with local experts to ensure your first investment is a solid one.Good luck!

The borrower will need to be exceptionally qualified and have significant reserves (particularly for a jumbo or super jumbo loans of $1-2-5M++) Historically borrowers could qualify with 10-20% reserves of the amount financed, that could jump to 100%+ without significant state and federal intervention.

I'll add a few more things that can have a huge financial impact: required reserves, LTC (loan to cost), application or other upfront fees, and prepayment penalties.As a fellow flipper, I think it's important to have reserves, but they shouldn't be required as part of your funding.

.- So, you may want to consider locking in an interest rate via a 2nd mortgage.Do you have reserves for unexpected expenses?