Hi @Julie Philpott it depends where you are in Franklinton to feel the full effects of those new developments.

I don’t know which way to tap into equity and where to invest in .Quote from @Samuel Diouf: I love house hacking because you can get into the higher priced areas and leverage your money very effectively. 

This means you’re effectively living for free, or close to it, while building equity in your property.Low-Cost Entry into Real Estate InvestingBecause you're living in the property, you can qualify for owner-occupied financing.

It's important to understand the difference, and I'd recommend sticking with the REIT with depreciation advantages.The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) includes a 199A deduction and applies to certain income from pass-through entities (including REIT dividends) and allows individuals to take the 20% deduction against REIT dividend distributions that yields an effective tax rate of 29.6% or 37% (80% for upper bracket filers).

Short term, assuming the real estate lobby doesn't sue this to keep delaying/appealing, once it goes into effect there will be no more broker fees paid by tenant *unless they hire the broker*Some long term effects I can predict already: - Landlords now having to absorb broker fees will bake this into the rent (e.g. how "no fee" units typically are priced a little higher than other units) - Real estate board will require another document (or checkbox) for tenants to sign stating that they're hiring the listing broker and responsible for compensating them for their fee *if* they apply and are approved- Regular New Yorkers will have an even harder time to find an apartment because you cannot legislate/regulate away a housing crises... 

Address issues like a squeaky basement shower and squeaky floors by marketing the space effectively.

Relationship-Based LendingBanks: Normal transactions are always cold-blooded and policy-oriented.Private Money Lenders: Most often work with borrowers to create solutions and value relationships over strict rules.The Bottom LineThe power of private money lending, I think, is a pretty effective alternative for borrowers who need speed, flexibility, and customized solutions—especially in industries like real estate investing.

A select few will also provide contact phone numbers.3.

They different compounding effects.

Landscaping will have the largest effect on the resale value vs a kitchen or bathroom.