Real estate investors: If you're feeling unsure about where the rental market is heading—or wondering how to grow your portfolio in today’s economy—you’re not alone.
In our 2025 Q1 Owner’s Call, we unpacked:
The national and local housing market trends
Interest rate outlooks for investors
Real-time rent and demand data in Eastern NC
And how to raise capital in a shifting environment
📻 Watch the full video here:
👉 Click to watch on YouTube
Or read on for the key takeaways.
🧠 Timeless Investing Principles (Warren Buffett Style)
We kicked off the call with wisdom from Warren Buffett—and why his philosophy applies directly to real estate:
“Our favorite holding period is forever.”
“Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.”
📌 Lesson for investors: Don't sell a great asset too soon. Stay informed and keep a long-term mindset.
📉 Mortgage Rates & Lending Landscape (Guest: Drew Blakely, Loansteady)
Drew broke down the current lending environment for investors:
Current Interest Rates (as of March 2025)
Investment Property (25% Down): 7.02%
VA Loan: 6.17%
FHA Loan: 6.15%Jumbo: 6.86%
Forecasts (MBA Predictions):
Q2 2025: 6.8%
Q3 2025: 6.7%
Q4 2025: 6.5%
Q1 2026: 6.4%
🏡 Key Insight: Mortgage rates are expected to gradually decline—creating opportunities to lock in better deals later this year.
📊 Real Estate Sales Market Trends in Eastern North Carolina (with Sean McDonnell from Quiet Waters Realty Group)
📍 Onslow County
Median sales price: Up 10.5%
New listings: Down 3%
Avg. value: $276,598
📍 Pender County
Median sales price: Up 17%
5,100+ new housing units permitted since 2020
📍 New Hanover County
Median sale price: $437,000 (up 0.7%)
Listings: Up 17%
Days on Market: Down from 47 to 42
💡 Bottom line: Inventory is still tight. Home values are increasing, especially in Pender County.
📉 National Rental Trends with Schuyler witt from (Cedar Ridge Management)
According to Realtor.com:
National rent fell to $1,691 in February
Year-over-year drop: $15 (0.9%)
Redfin & NAR note:
New apartment rentals are filling slower than normal
Build-for-rent projects are rising and filling slower than anticipated
📌 Strategy note: Rents may be cooling—but demand remains in key migration destinations like North Carolina.
🏡 Local Rental Snapshot — Eastern NC
Jacksonville – Sneads Ferry – Hampstead – Wilmington
Bed/Bath | Jacksonville | Sneads Ferry - Hampstead | Wilmington |
2 bed 1 ba | $950-1,300 (no change) | $1,350 (no change) | $1,500 (no change) |
3 bed 2 ba | $1,500-1,700 (no change) | $1,595-1,650 (tn hms), $1,900-2,100 (SFH) (town home prices no change/SFH no change) | $2,082 - $2,600 (no change) |
4 bed 2+ ba | $1,675 - 1,900 (no change) | $2,410 (no change)
| $2,600 (no change) |
📉 I don’t expect any major changes in pricing this quarter.
⚠️ Townhomes are hard to rent right now
Due to competition from new apartment builds (especially from Wilmington to Sneads Ferry), we’re seeing slower townhome absorption.
💸 Raising Private Capital in 2025 (Guest: David Pere, Military to Millionaire)
David gave a tactical crash course on how to find, structure, and document private lending deals.
Where to Find Private Lenders:
Networking + Facebook groups
Old email chains (seriously!)
Propstream + Listsource
Talking about what you do publicly
How to Market Opportunities:
Build an email list
Share projects on social
Use friends & family (with care!)
Deal Structures:
First Position Lien (best for lenders)
Second Position Lien (higher risk, more expensive)
Debt & Equity Partnerships
Legal Forms Needed:
Deed of Trust
Promissory Note
Close with a Title Company or Attorney
📲 Contact David:
Text “FMTM” to 88500
Email: militarytomillionaire@gmail.com
✅ What It Means for You
If you're an investor with 1–4 properties (or want to be), now is the time to:
Position your rentals competitively with fair pricing, solid renovations, and move-in specials
Refinance strategically as rates begin trending down
Explore private money to fund new deals
Partner with a manager who brings local market knowledge and boots-on-the-ground service
🛠️ At Cedar Ridge Management, we’re here to help you make smart decisions, protect your time, and grow your wealth long-term.
📥 Want Our Team on Your Side?
Let’s talk!
📧 Email: schuyler@cedarridgemgmt.com
📞 Call: 910-378-2642
🌐 Visit: https://www.cedarridgemgmt.com/
