Economists note that job growth in typically underreported industries fell by 42,000 compared to the 6-month average, suggesting August’s numbers may understate actual gains.Key Employment GainsConstruction: +34,000 jobs, driven by heavy civil engineering and nonresidential trade contractors.Healthcare: +31,000 jobs, though slower than the past year's monthly average of 60,000.Social Assistance: +13,000 jobs, with more modest growth compared to previous months.Other growing sectors include financial activities, wholesale trade, and government (+24,000 jobs).Job Losses and Sector StrugglesManufacturing: -24,000 jobs.Retail: -11,100 jobs.Temporary help employment continues to shrink, reflecting business uncertainty.Wage and Fed Policy ImplicationsWages rose by 0.4% in August, up 3.8% year-over-year, supporting a cautious approach by the Federal Reserve on deeper rate cuts.

@Ronnie Lee  which brokerage did you end up going with?

I'd venture to guess that the break even point on that up front investment is going to be 2.5-3 years.

If one person has smoke in their unit and causes the alarm to go off, the alarm in all units go off, and the fire department is automatically notified and is required to show up (is what I'm told by the FD and PD).

We have two children under the age of 2 and very little Equity to tie up in a deal.

If your HELOC is for the downpayment and you want to use lender money for the rehab, you are setting yourself up for failure in a difficult market.

Similar with a SFH: I can at least get in the market with a 5% conventional loan not expecting cash flow but hoping appreciation will help me out in the next 2+ years and I will at least be able to put up the remainder of the expenses since I do live with my parents.I am young so I could be overthinking, but my end goal is to have a portfolio where I can cash flow enough within the next 5-15 years to let go of my job (5k clean a month).

Rate will definitely be higher and you may fighting an up hill battle when it comes to DSCR.

Lenders are gonna want to see profit and loss statements, rent rolls, property condition assessments, the whole nine yards.

Eager to learn about RE tax write-offs, how to document/keep up with expenses, what can be written off, etc. at this point...However, the 3 RE focused CPA's I've visited with want $5,000 annually for a couple hour sessions a year and a few recorded classes and other resources, which does not include tax preparation.