Investing in El Centro Calif

[Matthew Agozino]

Hello,

I am new to BiggerPockets and investing in general.  This is my first post.   I have sent approx 800 yellow letters in San Diego targeting homes with at least 50% equity.  Not much response as yet. But I will Keep trying.  I was considering targeting the same but in El Centro CA.  Does anybody have an opinion or any experience in this area east of San Diego?

Matt Agozino

[Isaac Guzman]

Hi Matthew,

My family comes from the Imperial Valley (the county in which El Centro is located) so I may have a bit of insight. There most definitely is a large amount of owners who own outright. However, that is a great opportunity in the long run. Why? Mainly because the reality of what @Steve Olafson said, it's like living in *ell. The children of those homeowners most likely live somewhere other than the small town in which they grew up. So when those owners pass, move to a rest home/kids...etc. The people who inherit the property (which is in the town they strove their whole life to leave) are eager to sell. I know this from personal experience with my grand parents and parents. 

Additionally, that area is growing, albeit slowly.