It's not to say I don't get sick and tired of stuff, but if it is worth it, I will continue to bang my head against the wall.

How do you continue  guaranteeing a rate of return or redemptions when the asset class is real estate which is not liquid?

We continue to look near our existing properties for new investment opportunities and to use the equity we've built up.

CA, in total continues to lose 100k's of population and continues to add onerous legislation, including the state rent cap they passed a few years ago (doesn't apply to sfr's though).I am not sure why anyone would want to jump in the deep shark infested waters right before feeding time, unless you have a clear proven strategy, or a very long time horizon.

The industry continues to see consolidation, with private equity-backed firms actively acquiring, albeit at a slightly slower pace than the frenzy a few years back.

I’m hoping that once I do have enough saved I can buy the second property and continue house hacking.

In Tulsa, consider Midtown or Broken Arrow.Network Locally: Connect with wholesalers, agents, and property managers in Oklahoma for insights and off-market deals.Learn Continuously: Listen to podcasts (like the BiggerPockets podcast) and ask questions here—you’re in the right place!

So the grind continues.

Unfortunately due to the business you choose to operate incidents like the one you experienced are more likely to occur compared to a property that's continually occupied by a tenant where the water would more likely be run at a higher frequency which would prevent the pipes from freezing.  

For example, even if I liquidated by bitcoin just a month ago, it would have lost 50% of its value.I understand this is not easy, but this is the creative financing forum so trying to think creatively here =) If you expect the gains to continue, why get out of Bitcoin?