I literally laughed through the phone at his suggestion, because I was broke, in debt, and in every way and unqualified borrower, and the lending environment in 2012 was probably stricter than it had been since the invention of the 30yr mortgage.

Let’s break this down:The case for holdingThe 4.75% interest rate is a valuable asset in today’s high-rate environment.

Going on three years of being worthwhile.Share in the comments if you love your company's environment too!

Leveraging a property in todays environment of high interest rates will not get you cash flowing. 

If it's just slapped in the backyard, i'd imagine it may not make a big difference but if you create an environment around it, it could be different.   

If you can get a big 4-5 BR house with a view for a under a million bucks, i'm pretty confident you can cash flow it with a good return, even in a 6%-7% interest rate environment. 

Lenders desperately need/want business especially in this interest rate environment (right now, the main source of mortgage loan business in Florida is rehab financing as a result of the hurricane damages) and one way the big players differentiate themselves is by streamlining the process.

In today's tougher economic environment, I have recently experienced two cash calls.  

Vet potential partners carefully and aim for relationships that can grow with your portfolio.In this higher interest rate environment, focus on cash flow and creative financing options like the HomeStyle rehab loan or seller financing.

But if you’re looking for a more stable, family-friendly environment with lower costs and a focus on LTRs, Texas could be a better fit.Since you have young kids, I’d dig deeper into school districts and neighborhoods in both states—family life can really shape where you’ll feel at home.