CMHC & Genworth will require the interest rate on terms <= 5-years to be based upon the benchmark rate (i.e.

We currently have very limited inventory in many of the price points so my listings go very fast and we usually are setting a new benchmark with each one that hits the market. 

During the second stage of an FHA short sale, the lender will evaluate the buyer's offer against this bench mark. 

So say the rate for "good credit" is 5% (I actually don't know what's a good rate so if you have a benchmark that'd be really helpful).

That's just one benchmark, but we're borked on all of them.In short, buying now IS NOT buying in 2012.

Might even make the benchmark early, before one year's time since my first purchase is up, if I can put together one more good-sized deal in the next few months.Regarding @Thomas S.'

Once I bought one that broke even and went with the equity building routine and most of mine actually beat that bench mark by a nice margin.Josh C. is right, fly over country has this around nearly every corner and that's one thing about why it's so wonderful living out here!!!

I will keep the 1.3 benchmark in mind and try and get it to that point down the road. 

But I would warn that some of the strategies are not practical, and I would look for 2% as a benchmark for cash flow.There are some other books I have read, but I think I let someone borrow them.

I've seen 10% being used as a benchmark for maintenance, is that what most investors use and is that 10% of monthly rent.