Closing out the year in a genuinely different financial position than I started it in. Three rate cuts, every property cash flow positive, a new purchase that's already performing. After two hard years, it would be easy to let the guard down going into next year.
Trying not to. The lesson from 2022 through 2024 wasn't really about rates specifically, it was about how quickly conditions can shift in a direction nobody's forecasting confidently. I don't think 2026 owes me a continuation of this year's momentum just because the last twelve months went well.
Plan for next year is similar to every year before it, honestly. Keep the buffers healthy, keep the numbers current, and stay ready to adjust rather than assuming the current trend just continues in a straight line.