I need help with deciding on a property!!!

[Dennis Cid]

So I am close to buying my first buy and hold Duplex, I am just torn between buying in my home state of California or in Arizona where I have friends and family to look after the property. I am undecided because my 3.5% down here is the 20% I need to invest over there. In California I would be looking at duplexes here around 400k but they are not in the best areas and I would have to live there for a couple years before I can refinance and move out. In Arizona I would be looking at properties around $100k and would be making around $400-500 a month. My other hold up is that if I move out of the California place I would break even in the best case scenario and the Arizona property is positive from the jump. I am leaning towards Arizona but I guess I just need some reassurance. Thank you!

[Randy White]

have you done the property analysis with the calculators? I highly recommend it, makes it easy to see where all your money is going.  Just based off the little info here, cash flow is better than no cash flow.  If a fan breaks on your California place, where is the money going to come from to replace it?  If it breaks in the Arizona property, you'll have cash reserves to pay for it.  Just my two cents!  good luck

Randy