One, what is the average rent for a one bedroom or perhaps a studio near the Amtrak station?

I'm stationed here for another year and a half and then I'm on my way to the west coast.

Train doesn't come right through the area, but it is just a 5-10 minute drive to the station which will either take you to the Airport, RiNo or downtown.For relatively safe I have to say it's all about what you're comfort level is.

Can't imagine having trouble renting out a 4-unit close to a train station in this job market.

not to argue with you.. but Richmond is right over the bay bridge  and is only 20 miles away.. and their is a bart station there. and there are plenty of homes in the 200 to 250k range I look at them very time I swoop in to buy a lot or two.

Consider stopping by the police station to talk to the community officer about the area.

If I were buying in LA I would buy in Signal Hill or right by the two metro stations.

My home in Barrington, NH has zero water cost because the house has it's own well and zero sewer, because it has it's own septic tank, and zero trash brcause each resident has to tale their own trash to the transfer station or hire someone else to do so.

I was stationed in Japan, just days before 9/11.

We are both from NYC, so limited experience with cars and when he got stationed in FL, we rented a car and then decided to lease.