Where do I start?

[Rami Aweti]

Hello Everyone,

It's never easy to get my point out in one message. I'm hoping to get a conversation going and take it from there. First of all, I'm obsessed with real estate. I take it I am in the right place for that. Born and raised in San Francisco, I've witnessed tremendous wealth created around me and I've always been intrigued. I wasn't ready to jump in until 2005 and by then the market was absolutely crazy! A little depressed by the circumstances around me, I continued to save and finish my studies to become a teacher (my second passion). I got my first job in the fall of 2008 and then I witnessed the country collapse before my eyes. 

Understanding the underlying fundamentals of this region, I entered the market with laser like intention. I even brought my parents into the market and helped them purchase a property and then turned around and started looking for myself. Having seen so many people priced out of this region, I was determined to not let myself become a victim of circumstance. I would not stick my head in the sand. My career as a teacher offered some stability, prices around me were very accessible, and I had been saving since 2005. It was a classic example of "opportunity coming to the prepared mind." 

I made my first purchase 2 years later and now I am sitting on some great equity, reasonable cash flow, and cash in hand from a recent line of credit. I'm looking for my next deal. My only problem, the market is not the same anymore. I know timing was on my side the first time but I have to believe that creativity and diligence will lead me to the next great deal. Hence, I found the Portland area. I know investing out of state may be crazy but I have some line of reasoning and I would love to pick the brain of biggerpocket members if you are interested. The logic trail is primarily based in the weather. The water situation here in California is unsustainable and I don't think it will be getting better. I'd love to chat with other members about the Portland area and hear from those think my trail of logic is well founded.

Sorry about my long winded introduction. I tend to get excited :)

Rami