Or is it mostly just a play to decrease volatility in booking rates? 

I mean by safest is on the volatility, for example STRs have many different factors, seasons of the year, local government regs and much more.

If your goal is stability and less volatility, an LTR could be more predictable, but it wouldn’t give you the cash flow cushion you’re looking for.Pros:More predictable income with less management effort than STR.Lower vacancy rates compared to STR.Less risk of fluctuating occupancy rates.Cons:Potential negative cash flow if maintenance and repairs exceed margins.Limited growth potential for income.3.

I'm based in Houston and personally would avoid Midland due to its potential job volatility.

It's not my personal preference, as you are still exposing a chunk of your portfolio to volatility, but it's an option.

And yeah, the melt-down of our society does matter when were trying to convince the planet to use our USD as world reserve, it does matter that the society backing it is a dumpster fire, that = volatility. 

Despite current unemployment rates maintaining below 5%, the recent rise from 3.8% to 4.2%(recently revised to 4.1%) is significant, especially when considering wage growth adjusted for inflation.Over the last few years, the median household income has dropped by 7.2% when adjusted for inflation (and this isn't even considering volatile food and energy prices), a troubling trend given that inflation has outstripped income growth.

I’ve had other clients who preferred this approach..one even found a gem in Glenview at a time when the suburb wasn’t as well-known, and today his property’s value has grown by 15% in the past three years alone.With the anticipated drop in mortgage rates in 2024, the suburbs might be a solid pick for someone new to the market, especially if you’re looking to build equity without dealing with the volatility of city investments.So, for a first-timer, think about your goals: high appreciation and some hands-on work?

To me, mid-tier houses are likely one of the best long-term appreciation investments because they are sought after by so many people in that market, a smaller percentage of people can afford luxury houses and also they may be more volatile but there's always demand for the mid tier price range for the average Joe.I consider myself a serious investor, my LTR's are in a place I would otherwise never travel to, my own preferences and opinions on the location are meaningless as this is purely a long-term investment decision for me and I won't allow personal preference for a location to impact my decisions.

PatriciaThe upcoming election seems to bring some volatility and also  hesitation  for real estate investors right now, sometime after November 10th I am sure we can have more clarity on what strategy to use :)