how do you determine if a deal is a deal?

[Jason Schmidt]

in Texas, you have to have a real estate license, or have a hook-up with a realtor to find the comps in areas for what houses have sold for. so clearly, all i have access to right now is just what houses are on sale for. What do you all do? Is anyone else in my situation?

[Frank Gallinelli]

Jason - Jon Holdman hit the nail squarely on the head. If you're looking to buy a rental property, you need to do your homework about the rental market. Then you should take that information, along with data about the operating expenses and financing, and work up your cash flow projections for the property.

It may be a very nice house to live in, but a serious cash flow drain as a rental. It's all in the numbers.