You should be shooting for at least $100 per month per door in real cash flow.Of course none of this takes into consideration the appreciation game/gamble or amortization, however, if your goal is income, you need to be fully educated on operating expenses and all other costs associated with owning rental units.

How about the old and occasional appreciation misspelled as "gambling".

Depending on the rental market there raising the rents could be a gamble.

My fiancee is currently an IT technician in the UK, and the place she works has another location in Los Angeles so right now the 'game plan' is to have her transfer and get a work visa so we're planning to live in LA, but I'm from and currently living in MN.

I'm developing a three bedroom holiday home in Scotland uk.

Unfortunately, it looks like popular vote doesn't hold water in the UK either...http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36225652

My question is ; since I'm a foreign investor I have arranged to buy this property through an international property consultant based in UK.

If you go into a deal with speculation of "appreciation" and that's your focus, then you are gambling IMHO.

Hi BP,I am a UK citizen and am looking at investing in the US.

This gives you a better chance to have enough equity to refi five years out. 25 year amortization would likely leave you "upside down" in five years unless interest rates remain at historic lows (not likely - never gamble!).