Beyond that, real estate is largely local; in my market we are not seeing anywhere near those numbers.

As we welcome 2025, we’re grateful for your continued trust in our market insights.

Any changes in federal spending could influence the job market and, subsequently, the real estate market.4.

Any tips for navigating the competition in such a hot market?

Hard to say if it’s a good deal without the most important piece of data, what is the fair market value? 

It was an off market property that my realtor found while I was out of state.

I’m considering amulti-family property in the 76104 zip code of Fort Worth, TX, and I’d love your feedback to help determine if this is a good deal.Property DetailsAsking Price: $169,999 (seller says it’s negotiable).Current Rental Income: $2,400/month (duplex is vacant).Configuration: Combination of duplex and triplex units.Some units are rented at below-market rates.The duplex and need rehab.Historical Income: Seller claims it previously brought in $5,000/month when fully occupied.ConditionBuilt in 1934, so it’s an older property.Some permits were recently pulled (e.g., plumbing, window replacements, and sheetrock repairs), but it still needs work to get the vacant units ready to rent.It’s located in a neighborhood with a higher crime rate but also near major highways and areas with rental demand (e.g., downtown Fort Worth and Texas Christian University).My Goal:I’m focused on cash flow, and this property seems like it could work if I can stabilize it.

If you're going to start in a market you're eventually going to live in, I think that's a stronger case for that market."

Or do I look into a market like Las Cruces, NM, or Lubbock, TX, as an example of bigger markets I have looked at and am somewhat familiar with?

I strongly advise anyone purchasing an old house to flip to ensure they have a clear understanding of the condition of the home's drainage system.