Where is best area of country to buy income properties?

[Account Closed]

Hello, I live in NY but open to any area of the country. What is the best area to invest 100k in capital in income producing properties? I know this is a open ended question, but where do you see the best returns?

Also if you had 100k to put in real estate, would you focus on rental properties? I do not anticipate needing the money over the next 5 years, but do not like the idea of buying something just in the hope its price goes up (i.e I like dividends). Thanks.

[Bill Gulley]

I'd suggest you stay away from gurus and start reading here. There is a thread "What do you want Mr. Note Buyer" which is rather long and recent. There are many others as well. The best thing to read, which is really boring and not much of a plot, is the Fannie Mae underwriting guidlines, knowing those will get you a long way.

And I second Ned's suggestion, farm the areas you already know, even if you don't know anything about RE, at least you don't get lost, you know where and what the neighborhoods are like, etc. Grow where you are planted. You already know people there and RE is all about knowing people.....good luck