Thanks Thomas! Of course, as investors, we'd all like positive cash flow from day one. But my main goals (for now) are appreciation and eventual positive cash flow. As long as there is no significant negative cash flow (like say, over $250/300 a month), I'm ok.
You said you had to look "out of the area" - did you mean areas other than Apex, Cary, Holly Spring, etc. or outside the Raleigh/Triangle area itself?
If you're wondering why I, a Seattle resident chose NC: I believe in the idea of rental investments, but due to both time commitments (and I'm probably a chicken!), I follow the "tried and tested" versus researching a brand new market myself. I bought a rental in Austin following my cousins' several rental investments there, and this time chose the Raleigh area because my Seattle buddy and his sister both bought rentals 2 years ago and are happy (~$150 to 200 cash flow per month). I've read other hot rental investment markets on this forum like Indianapolis, etc. but don't know of anyone who's personally invested, and hence don't feel comfy proceeding in that path.
