I have been cold calling direct-to-seller and working with brokers to find deals.I don't understand how properties, in East Boston, for example, are trading at around 5.3 cap when rates are around 6.5%.

I'll message you directly if that's okay! 

He has a historical record with Norada whether he does business directly with them or not. 

Sellers often favor buyers who can make larger down payments, as it indicates stronger financial backing and reduces the risk of the deal falling through due to financing issues.Additionally, SFH properties are more accessible to a wider range of buyers, including first-time homebuyers and families, which can lead to less direct competition from institutional investors.

It’s a great way to grow faster.HELOC or Equity Tapping: If you have equity in another property, using a HELOC or cash-out refinance could help cover the down payment without affecting your DTI as much.Seller Financing or Creative Deals: Look for sellers willing to finance directly, which bypasses traditional mortgage qualification hurdles.Scaling quickly often involves combining strategies—play around with what works best for your goals.

We have purchased twice directly from owner. 

@Chris Clarkson, having a partner can complicate things for sure if you're not united on direction. 

To be direct, I give this same advice to investors who ultimately realize they want to be passive.  

But am wondering if I can buy directly from the city.

They also have been directed by someone high in his organization to attack other groups to  not just disrupt but to try and get people to ask for refunds.Many of these are "infuencer" types and not even wannabe or actual real estate investors.