Over the last year, four separate surveys have been taken asking when we can expect the next recession to occur: The Pulsenomics Survey of Market AnalystsThe Wall Street Journal Survey of EconomistsThe Duke University Survey of American CFOsThe National Association of Business Economics70% of all respondents to the four surveys believe that a recession will occur in 2019 or 2020 with an additional 18% saying 2021.However, we must realize that a recession does not mean we will experience another housing crash.

Economical data both globally and nationally have been slowing since last summer.

I'm from eastern NC and I believe its the perfect place for multi family RE.

I invest in San Diego county and will state that if you do not want to count appreciation then it is far better to rent than to purchase at retail.The problem with this logic is that you are discounting the return component that makes San Diego one of the best locations in the nation for buy n hold RE.  

Long story long, call a minimum of a dozen local/national lenders and get some rates!

What you are really doing is running a list up with a national phone database and ADDING phone numbers to your list.The term "Skip Trace" comes from TRACING down people who SKIPPED out on their bills.

(Giant national online company or local savings and loan? 

It always does change and (b.) the amount of debt we carry as a nation will need to be paid and the likely place to get the money is the huge amount of money in 401(k)s and IRA's that is "locked in".

National lenders in cubicles somewhere sometimes are a little out of touch. 

National Bank of Commerce is one lender that will allow you to have more than four as they go by Fannie Mae guidelines as @Mike D'Arrigo  stated.