While less than 10% of the mortgage industry offers 40-year mortgages, here's something to factor in: they often come in with a rate increase of 20-35 bps.Assume 35 bps.$300k mortgage at 7.25% (30-year): $2,046$300k mortgage at 7.6% (40-year): $1,996Technically, it lowers the monthly, but not by much once factoring in the rate adjustment.

Some strategies to get around are:1. leverage your current portfolio and buy in cash, increase value, and then refi2. buy Multi-family so your ratios aren't the main factor to lenders3. get in with a lender for high net worth individuals4.

As for the lack of burnable material in the Palisades and other areas now, insurers will want to rebuild reserves and augment reserves for the next time, not to mention not exposing themselves to risk on this scale again.what I see happening is that the government will simply cut the Gordian Knot by using eminent domain to seize properties and redesign/rezone the whole area so that it's more defensible against natural- and human-caused catastrophe.

You have to factor in demand and vacancy rates to determine if it will be more profitable, and that’s specific for each market.

They are mocking these up with interest only loans and factoring back in the tax deduction as if you qualified for the tax benefits of a real estate professional and factoring in the diminished first year property tax (since its not a full year).

Have multiple exit strategies, do not be over leveraged, and make sure you are factoring market changes.

I still need to do a deeper dive, but the ownership structure was one of the external factors that I was thinking about.  

Of course you have to factor in realtor and closing costs on top.

You will also have to factor in the closing cost for the new loan.

Heck, some people might even pay more for the 'cool factor' of living in a 'small home'....I'd give it a go since you're a veteran of this RE stuff.