2% rentals do I have to stay away?

[Seth Bender]

I am very close to signing a purchase agreement for a couple properties that an investor was selling 3 together but is willing to sell just the two. I am about to have the houses inspected after the purchase agreement is signed. I have been reading David Greene’s book on out of state REI and he strongly cautioned against the 2% rentals as being fullerton of headaches and often referred to as “war zones” because of crime. The properties already have tenants and one is already trying to resign lease as the realtor is also part of the property management company has informed me. I looked into crime maps and these areas are good but not very far away has some bad crime areas. Can someone help me determine if it’s ok to go ahead? This will be my first endeavor in real estate investing.

[Nicholas Scatton]

just because its being rented, does not mean it is liveable.