Money is what motivates and moves them, and nothing else.

Negotiating a security deposit amount is not a red flag for me, especially with over $10K in estimated moving expenses (professional movers) and move-in costs (1st month and security).

Unfortunately, we have to move a few hours away in September because of work.

It's no different than if you were going to move to another city to live, or even better - you had to choose between two cities in different states!

Here are a few strategies to consider moving forward:1.Consider Existing Properties:Since new construction timelines are extended, you might explore purchasing an existing property that you can renovate to include a Next Gen suite.

Mortgage rates do not perfectly move with the 10yr T, but its pretty dang close.  

Technology has allowed you to move beyond giving a bank account and trying to figure out who actually made the deposit.   

Analyze financial statements, market trends, and historical performance data to move beyond surface-level information.

For emergencies, I could move money from my 401k to an IRA to cover vacancies and capital expenditures.

The key requirement is that the property you are purchasing with the 5% down payment must be owner-occupied and primary residence.