Well worth looking at if getting rid of those two properties is on your horizon.

A lot of it depends on how much money you are putting into the deal on the front end, what your investment horizon is, how many other investors there are, how much cash you need up front, etc. 

I've got two more on the horizon and believe me dual enrollment is in their future.  

Not cheaper, just easier to deal with.There is nothing on the horizon which leads me to believe we are in for a market correction in the immediate future.

The idea is this:  I might make $1,000/ month buying out of state in cash flow,  but I can deploy the same capital to make $3,000/ month in appreciation here in Oakland over the long term 10 - 20 year time horizon. 

That's the plan for this place on the horizon anyway.Meanwhile, I am reading anything and everything I get my hands on.

I took the red one.For me it was simply that I wanted to broaden my horizons far beyond what was in my face.

I'm no Warren Buffet and I don't trust other people with my money so for me, real estate is my retirement.I think for someone a little younger with a longer time horizon, a good alternative would be to put down enough money for a 15-year mortgage to be covered by the rent or get a 30-year mortgage by make sure the rent pays down the mortgage faster.

I realize we don't usually look at 20 year deal horizons, but it shows that this can't continue indefinitely.

If you have a long time horizon and are far from your desired goals, than you may have to opt for a more aggressive investing strategy, depending on your risk preference.