This is our "8 x 8 project" - there, I've said it out loud to remain accountable! 

.- If interest rates remain high, this is further upward pressure on rents in the near-term, as the alternative to renting - buying a home with a mortgage, is expensive - this should increase demand for rentals. - Rents are also a function of supply - 2024 saw the most new construction of multifamily units in American history (nearly 575,000 estimated 2024 deliveries of new multifamily inventory), and 2025, while not a record setting year, will see deliveries top 500,000 again - a huge supply increase. 

My goal is to buy a house in the area and house hack the remaining rooms.

One of the best ways to engage with the community is to remain active in these forums (reading & contributing).Setting up keyword alerts is a great way to get started.All the best!

The remaining four applicants made a combined income of $2,000. 

If I got a home equity loan for Property 1 and used the proceeds as downpayment for Property 2 and then got a 2nd loan for the remaining 75% purchase price for Property 2, when I sell Property 2, can I use the Property 1 loan as part of the cost basis for computing Property 2 capital gains?

Relative AffordabilityDespite recent price increases, Buffalo’s housing market remains more affordable compared to many other U.S. metros.

Some facts/info you may already know but if not:1) You assume the loan from the servicing bank, meaning you will work directly with the servicing bank.You assume the loan amount, but still need to come up with the difference of the VA loan amount and the sales price, in your case 172K. 2) No one will finance the entire remaining 172K amount.

Its stabilizing and will probably remain somewhat stagnant as interest rates come down slowly. 

But, I think in practice, "reverse trolling" remains ill-defined and a blurred line will rapidly begin developing.