If you buy the lower price properties for all cash here's how it calculates:45k cash outlay/7800(gross rent)= ~17.3% ;If you apply 50% (rule) to ball park expenses, you get 3900 estimated net = ~8.7%.VS.85k *20% DP = 17k cash outlay68k loan balance @6%@20yrs=487.17/mo + 250 (tax&Insur, just for illustrative purposes, you can easily get actual numbers to figure this out) = 737.17/mo1000 -737.17=262.83 *12= 3153.96 (gross rent) = ~18.6%; If you apply 50% (rule) to ball park expenses, you get 1576.98 estimated net = ~9.3%.It's your decision which you prefer.

The process is illustrated below:The steps I would take are as follows:• I would choose a city that has experienced sustained growth and is likely to continue to grow.

As a simple example for illustration purposes: If you are in a 30% tax bracket, then every dollar diverted from paying down your student loan would need to return $1.30  (your opportunity cost) to break even.  

To illustrate, I suggest driving up Charles street, from the Inner Harbor up to JHU.

PS: I'm not saying you should buy this house, only giving a quick illustration.

The appraisal states that fair market value is only $1150, which is actually less then they rent for now.My real estate agent has already provided the bank with several pieces of evidence illustrating that this appraisal is wrong.

I know they are different type of tenants but I mention it to illustrate the amount of traffic we have on this street.2.

It's theoretical until it happens to you, then it is a disaster.The overall process I would follow to meet all three criteria is illustrated below.Below is a description of each level.Metro Level ConsiderationsI would only consider metro areas with: Reasonable access (flight/drive) from where you live.

This is illustrating 64 parking stalls, but you'll lose a few for handicap and islands.

For the members who don't feel that rates matter, please post real deals that help illustrate how they work when the interest rate is at or above the cap rate (or yield, return on cost, unlevered return...whatever you want to call it).