Here's why:Deep Discount Buying OpportunitiesAfter a period of aggressive rate hikes, many real estate assets are trading 20-30% below peak prices seen in 2021-2022.

They’d rather just trade toys on the sly and call it a day.3.

He is a contractor by trade and I am the sales and numbers guy to loosely define us.

It’s when homeowners who locked in ultra-low mortgage rates during the pandemic hesitate to sell because moving would mean trading up to much higher rates.

Second, if you want a nice house in a nice part of town, you will have to pay for it, so will likely need to raise your purchase price.Third, if you want to go off-market, just know you are trading a lot of time for the possibility of maybe finding a deal.  

As for your Index funds, if you were trading indices such as SPX, you would have the favorable tax treatment accorded to §1256 Contacts:  60% of gains are Long Term Capital Gains, and 40% are Short Term capital gains.

Then you can trade up to another property where you can force equity. 

Step outside to the fenced backyard or relax on the swing on the front porch.

If you're tax bill is $6-8k (minus the 1031 fees), surely you can make that up by taking multiple swings over a longer period of time.OR pursue some sort of owner occupied strategy with that cash if you can swing a live in flip or house hack.

This has led to what’s commonly called “interest rate jail,” where homeowners are reluctant to trade their low rates for higher ones in today’s market.