@Kyle Root if there is one thing I would do differently in my life, it would be to skip paying of the $40,000 in loans my wife and I had when we were first married.

On the flip side, 10 good reasons to rent .... 1) No property taxes 2) No association fees 3) No maintenance expenses 4) No roots 5) Free utilities 6) Lower utilities 7) Free perks 8) Less risk 9) Lower insurance rates 10) Opportunities for investments Link

Not only will a MFH offset the high NJ prices but also give you some time to figure out where in the area you might want to lay more permanent roots down the line. 

ya that was the point I was trying to make.. we cant understand or know how important not up rooting folks near the end..

Oh boy, Louisiana is the strangest state in terms of the types of laws that may apply to your particular case, given their Civic Law roots.

Housing prices shot up, and it the last 2 years, duplexes in our area went up $100K each year.This year we all went to the dentist, all 4 of us, and we need root canals, crowns, and even though with dental insurance, our co-pay is considerable.

Welcome to BP @Michael Root

I agree with everything you wrote about the financial situation in Cali, yes we all hear how much easier it is in Texas, for example. and I still miss the days when we lived in Florida, and did not pay income tax. ...The point is, and if you think you will have a fair chance of being equally happy, in another state, I would give it a serious thought. but do not leave a place that you have roots in , and you love, just because it is harder. difficaulties can take many forms.

I am rooting for these guys to pull off some refinancings within the next year to boost returns.

IMO, the root cause is that lay people think they can draft a "simple" right of first refusal.