I often read that one should seek a commissioned sales role because your comp is uncapped and that has served me well. 

It’s a smart move, especially since it ties in with your goal of saving for your first investment.For skills, you probably already have a good foundation with your sales experience—things like communication, organization, and dealing with clients are all super valuable.

If you want to combine two or more lesser sales into one higher purchase that is fine as long as your purchase meets the timing requirements for each sale.  

Unfortunately cap ex usually catches up to them and the appraised value rarely translates to a similar sale experience and all along the property has merely been a highly levered property.

Like you a purchased my primary residence in 2017 as an estate sale and landed an amazing deal which still holds a large amount of equity.

Lower property taxes, affordable housing compared to LA (CA buyers are usually cash buyers because what they net from their smaller home in CA can get them a bigger home here, often covered by what they net from their CA sale), allergies (smog), and politics. 

Limited Housing InventoryThe number of homes for sale in Buffalo is significantly below pre-pandemic levels, with a reported 46.1% decrease compared to 2018–2019 averages.

There aren't many lake front properties in that area for sale, but there are a number that are in the 800k range.

This is a sale for me.

However, value add with a sale is not as implacted by rates.