The country's continuous population growth, coupled with its high demand for urban housing, positions its real estate market for steady, long-term price increases.Over the past decade, cities like Berlin and Munich have seen remarkable growth in property values, with an increasing number of investors betting on the continued upward trend.

You are in a decent position and if done right you will be ok over time.

Let's talk about the 'upcoming economy transition'.Right now, investing in private placement syndications makes even more sense than ever. 1/3 of the dollars every created were willed into existence over the last 1.5 years, and with the cervesa sickness policies enacted, this is driving the dream of homeownership more and more unaffordable.We are going to see record rental demand going forward with huge housing unit shortages in many markets.Both passive investment in syndications and buying SFHs can fit this role, but owning rentals suffers from all the issues I outlined in my first posts.I'm usually funding 4-6 deals a year, and even with this cash position in portfolio is getting uncomfortably high.

The work around is part of the application process is to tour the property, but still, why put yourself in that position?

This creates a negative initial position.

i say that not to discourage you, but so that you have a realistic picture of what to expect.as @Travis Timmons alluded to, you need to be in a strong financial position to even think about starting to invest. 

Those that cannot weather the storm get wiped out.Having cashflow positive properties provides a margin of safety you just do not have with negative cashflow.Why are you focused on buying in your backyard? 

I think there's a path to refinance that would flip me into positive cash flow, but I'm coming up short on ideas. 

@Justin FondrenIf your credit score is in the 700–730 range, you're in a great position to secure favorable loan terms.

A successful rental property should offer positive cash flow, meaning your rental income should exceed your monthly expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.).To find the right tenants, ensure the property is priced competitively within the local rental market.