Those who strike the correct in between balance are generally those who are most successful.

- Why can't you buy now and use savings to pay down your mortgage balance to get rid or PMI?

You can also focus on dividend growth stocks within your taxable account, as dividends can be taxed at lower rates, especially if you hold long-term.By balancing real estate with traditional investment strategies like bonds, stocks, and tax-efficient accounts, you’ll have a diversified approach that generates tax-advantaged income while minimizing risk.Let me know if you need help strategizing further or exploring real estate financing options!

You do not need to go that extreme, and as I get older I'm understanding more and more of the value of balance. 

That seems fair because they probably balance out to somewhere around $30-$40 an hour, which is a good wage for cleaning.If they don't like that, convert to paying them an hourly rate based on your market and pay them for the time required.

In addition, targeted searches for "apartments 77008" and "greater heights apartments" have lower competition which provides a great opportunity for organic and lower cost of acquisition.Household Composition: 77008 shows balanced demand for both family-oriented housing and non-family units, promoting investments in single-family homes and high-quality apartments. 77063 indicates higher demand for rental units and smaller homes, focusing on apartments and affordable housing options.Despite higher entry costs and a lower percentage of renter-occupied units, 77008 appears to offer better prospects for appreciation and lower vacancy rates, making it a more suitable choice for investment.Greater Heights OverviewThe Greater Heights area (77008), often referred to as "The Heights," is renowned for its prime location offering a blend of amenities, top-rated schools, and abundant job opportunities.

Lenders will require 5% down and you will need to meet the conforming loan limits (not high balance unfortunately).

I found this but I can't understand what the other costs are https://www.narpm.org/members/resources/rent-vs-sell-calculator/SFH current value: $441,000Bought for (2020 new construction): $362,000 (primary residence till Nov 2023)Mortgage balance: $218,000Interest rate: 2.375% for 15-year loan (12 years left)Annual Tax, insurance and HOA: $7,000Current rent: $2950Appreciation: Reached $441K in March 2022 and has stagnated since.

Helocs are great for this because you don't have to make payments until you use the capital and if you don't have a balance you don't pay.

Find the balance where land is decent, but rents are high.