In these conditions, investors typically focus on faster, lower-cost flips that add clear, high-value improvements without overextending time or budget.

Interesting, thanks for the reply, yeah I would imagine there could be potential in smaller towns for relatively frugal accommodations that are well located as it would still beat a hotel.

Real Estate grows your wealth considerably faster when you leverage since the appreciation is on the asset, not the equity. 

Marketing, professional photos, and dialing in the rental amount are crucial, and we've noticed nicer units at better prices being leased out much faster (well yeah, duh...). 

I work in healthcare and rely HEAVILY on my electronic health record platform, so I think I'm assuming that it's more efficient to build from a platform rather than needing to transition later, but perhaps I'm just making it more complex than it needs to be at this stage. 

Personally I have never been a fan of pre-tax accounts (401Ks and IRAs) because I feel like they constrain my ability to invest in the assets I want, so another consideration you may have is to temporarily stop those investments to save faster for your house.

You can likely do a higher ltv if DSCR works, but, it will be at an expensive rate.

Each time I bought one, because I was receiving cash flow, I was able to save up for the down payment for the next one a little bit faster.

It needed to be at least cash flow neutral to meet our "buy" requirements.One year later our thesis is working.

It's why our market cycles are faster.