Nice to meet you all!

[Gary Dayton]

Hello everyone.

I'm Gary Dayton and I've just joined the site. Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm stationed in England with the US Air Force. I Have a pre-approval contingent on a family member living in the home while I'm overseas. This allows me to buy an investment property without putting money down but limits me to areas where my family reside.

My dad spent 12 years working with a general contractor so I there'll be some savings there.

My pre-app was for $200K but I figure I dont want to max that out because I'm maintaining a household here where the exchange rates are out of control. So I'm looking at $130K ish to keep the payment down.

It'll be an investment so I'm looking for Foreclosures, REOs, Distrssed situations, etc. Unfortunately, I'm limited to the Central California Coast where mobile homes seem to be the only things in my budget. Somehow I don't see those as a good investment.

I did just read an REO topic talking about running the numbers so my hope has been renewed.

My first question for the brains in here is: What is the best long-distance way to research comps, neighborhoods, city planning, etc.?

Well thanks for letting me ramble.

Gary