I have seen heat pumps work well for milder climates but have not done well for very cold winters.

My units don't have mold problems, and to avoid them, the tenants are informed via the lease, and our move in process.That said, it seems like Atalia's problem is related to leaks, not climate, and knowing about the leaks, her landlord is on the hook.

-If you live in a cold climate, not having central heating is a huge roadblock for buyers.

Now summer is over and I am on my way back to Houston (spent three months in cooler climate).

My friend just bought one for his house and one is going on my next project.The one concern I have is if you live in a cold climate, it might not get warm enough to melt to snow on them.

hey adrian, welcome....real estate may seem risky given the economic climate and the unpredictable future, but as you learn more, it will seem less like a risk and more just like normal business....look forward to your contributions

In talking with my attorney about planned future offerings, he suggested that the regulatory climate is such that anyone raising capital for my ventures, including myself, obtain a securities license.BTW, the Texas securities laws and regulations seem to offer contradictory information as to whether a note secured by real estate is a security or not; whether such transaction is an exempt transaction, and whether the party brokering the note needs a securities license.

In the climate we are in, there's no reason to turn down any qualified buyer who can get a mortgage.

While I don't hold many rentals, I personally want to see a cash-on-cash return of at least 15%, with 20% being possible, and also some expectation of price appreciation over the next couple years (for example, homes in a recent freak flooding area that are selling under market due to retail buyer concerns that will likely fade in another year or two).That said, I'm sure those who have a lot more rentals than I do will chime in, and they probably have different ROI goals.As for the San Francisco property you mentioned, a couple things:- Prices and cap rates in the Bay Area are tremendously skewed for various reasons -- small land-locked area, great climate, world technology center, very high average income, etc.

It will give you the best cashflow and manage your risk a little bit better, which is the most important thing in today's climate.