@Drew SlewWhile rates are still historically low, we are in a rising rate environment and have been for the past year or more. 

The other part of me says, it's ONLY $4K and feels like a sucker locking in north of 5.00% interest in this environment.

They also opened the door last year for crowd sourced funds, but I know very little about those and am wary of that format given how untested the market (and litigation environment) is. 

I ended up not picking up a 2nd roommate, and decided I would pay the 300/month to have a stress free living environment. 2. 3% interest rate (Nov 2020).

I suspect you are aware of the rising rate environment we are in at the moment.

Maybe take a genuine interest in the tenant's well-being - check to see if he is ok, and what can be done to ensure a safe, comfortable living environment for him.

Instead of putting down 25% I am having the lender cross-collateralize for an equivalent amount on another property that I own free and clear.The terms are 5.25%, 5 year balloon, amortized over 25 years, 1 point Do these seem like good terms in the current environment?

. - Because the Bay Area is such a boom/bust environment, I wanted to cash in on the equity I had built up on my most recent purchase (the SJ condo) and move that money to a more stable real estate market. - Areas I looked into, Indianapolis, Atlanta, San Antonio, Cleveland, Memphis, parts of Florida. - First filter - any city that I read about that had good purchase prices compared to rental income I considered.

Then having the ability to source the funds and establish a relationship with a hard money lender who is willing to accept such an environment.

I am more in the camp of wait and see right now, not turning away a deal if the risk adjusted returns, conservative underwriting makes sense and the debt/ hold period are far enough out the current situation shouldn't matter too much in 5-10 years.How do you think investors should view a particular opportunity in the current environment as there is so much uncertainty?