Newbie from Portland, Oregon

[Kyler Pace]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new to BP and hoping to start investing in real estate sometime in the near future in the Portland, Oregon area.  I have a short term, one year, financial goal that I'm working on, and after that hoping to start investing.  In the meantime I'm looking to learn as much as I can before jumping in.

Small, multi-unit dwellings, specifically 4-plexes, have been an interest of mine.  They seem to come on the market fairly often in my area and when I run quick numbers they seem to pencil out well for cash flow.  However, the down payment is what would hold me back from purchasing.  

One option, would be selling my current house to use the equity to purchase a 4-plex as owner occupied.  Not my ideal situation since I'm quite happy where I'm at, but it would be a way to get started.  I could probably have a small cash flow right away renting out 3 of the units, live in it a year, and then rent the 4th unit as well.  At that point, maybe purchase another unit?  Any thoughts on that idea?  Has anyone used that as a strategy before?