Granted, the real estate investing market was better in 2016 than it is now.Best of luck to you with whatever decision you make.

If either of these homes has been your primwry for anywhere approaching a year.

All indications here are of a pretty healthy market. 

This isn’t about chasing high-growth markets; it’s about addressing systemic issues that impact quality of life and economic stability.

Unfortunately, it's now going to get more complicated:(There are two types of approaches PMCs use to bill for maintenance:1) In-house ServiceTechs on the payroll, so owners are billed for their time by the hour.While the labor charges above are useful, they don't cover the true costs a PMC incurs, like:- Payroll costs for FICA, Social Security, Medicare, etc. that typically add 25-40% to the hourly rate- Medical insurance costs for the worker- Payroll processing costs to handle all of the above- Liability insurance costs in case worker damages something or injures someone- Workman's Compensation insurance- Costs of vehicles and tools- and more...Typically the management contract will disclose the total hourly rate an owner will be charged.

In terms of feedback from our team, we’re leaning towards buttoning down the hatches, keeping rent increases low, and focusing on maximizing occupancy in our New England markets.

The only instance where it might be more beneficial to do it this way vs. getting financing right off the bat is if you need to be SUPER competitive with your offers in your market.

We take a "whole person" approach.

Partnering with someone already in that market would be wise.

Totally agree with your approach!