The Pacific Northwest is competitive, so leveraging those connections can be a game-changer.Second, when analyzing deals, ensure you’re building a framework to assess not just the property’s performance today but its future potential.

Milwaukee is the third most competitive market for tenants in the US.

Down around those areas you'll be swimming in a sea of cabin competition, so a Scandinavian style or something otherwise standout might be the only path to making more. 

I understand the rate is competitive on the assumable, but having $300k liquid, you might as well do a lower downpayment and Buy down the rate. 

Other forces including skyrocketing insurance premiums, inflationary pressure on expenses and tough competition in the Class A space work against efforts to improve NOI. 

Even with multiple units, with current interest rates and a competitive market (prices have continued to rise even with higher interest rates) think the Madison market is a stronger long term ownership strategy, where the bulk of your return will come when you sell from appreciation in rents and property value. 

Vrbo has free price automation and analytical tools to compare the competition and see trends.

Pricelabs for MTR competitive intelligence.

The downside is that everyone does it and unless you have something quite unique, you will deal with lots of competition and seasonality.

It is solid to look at deals that are off-market and know that the ability to buy it at a price and either hold it or sell it will be coming with less competition on the purchase and more upside.