Several economic factors are contributing to this shift:Overbuilding: Some areas of Charlotte have seen significant overdevelopment, leading to an oversupply of rental units.Tighter Money: Rising interest rates and economic uncertainty have made tenants more cautious with their spending.Tenant Behavior: Many responsible renters are choosing to stay put rather than take on the cost and hassle of moving.What Does This Mean for Landlords?

I'd also like to try to purchase with a land trust or my LLC. 

Quote from @Victor Yang: If I gift a house, what amount will go towards the lifetime gift limit, the amount i purchased the house for, or the current FMV?

With this being your first purchase, you may want to consider a property that's not being sold at auction. 

Nope......i heard of it on a podcast though.i actually have studied banking and economics for the last year and a half.

Understand Realtor (Agent) Fees- In Germany, real estate agent (Makler) fees are typically paid by the buyer and can range from 3-7% of the property purchase price, plus 19% VAT.- These fees are due at closing and are part of the overall transaction costs.6.

HUDuser.org is great for vacancy rates, but cross-referencing with local market reports is important for more context.For job diversity and employers, LinkedIn or regional economic development websites often provide insights.

But, these broad market studies are so large, they are almost meaningless, in the real world.Between glut of new supply in many "hot" markets coming online, a continually softening economic outlook, inflation over last couple years making day to day items feel cost prohibitive, many average renters are strapped and seeking lower cost housing.  

@Brittany MyrickIf I were getting started in real estate investing in New England, I’d focus on researching local market trends, especially job growth, rental demand, and the broader economic outlook.

President Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, testified that extending the ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’ of 2017 is essential to avoiding economic catastrophe.