I am a Marine Engineer and currently work full time as a Port Engineer for assist tugs on the Savannah river.

In my market (Marin County CA), a 3 or 4 SFR in decent condition will typically gross $60,000 to $90,000 in annual cash. 

My principal market, Marin County CA, is doing fine. 

Forget about your 401K and allow it to keep marinating.

We are seeing the same conditions the OP describes here in Marin County which is positioned similarly to Bergen County but as to San Francisco. 

Originally posted by @Anthony Marin:@Scott LennonI'm of the opinion that we will have a decline in the real estate market sometime next year but that doesn't mean anything unless you are investing nationwide. 

And if curious about service my daughter would be more than happy to help you in candidacy for US Marines, lol.

I can send you their contact information, if interested but those properties are scattered throughout the Midwest and Southeast.For vetting a team out in NC, I lived out there while in the Marine Corps, and I just interviewed many, worked with many, and got recommendations from people that I trusted out there, and so far they seem to really be taking care of things, so I hope it continues. 

Thanks for your '2 cents' @Eva Marin it would be great to talk to someone from a similar area and get a grasp of where you see the market moving in the next 10 years.

In my introductory post, I mentioned briefly that my career in the Marine Corps will most likely bring me to the Jacksonville, NC real estate market (Camp Lejeune) within the next couple months.