Congrats on making the decision to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire...The real estate investing fire, that is...

Im a long way away from the pacific northwest, but if I can help feel free to reach out.

I while ago I read a post on BP about someone putting slanted drip pans under the sink so that if there is a leak water flows on the floor it is reported by a renter rather than pool and cause water damage especially in a second floor unit.

ours have the access thru the pan overflow cut off switch.

Sean Don't let the prices scare you, a deal is a deal, you have to find them of course and they are not falling off the trees like the old days back in the 50's but they are there.As a broker and investor in the Bay Area since I turned 16 I have done deals from one end to the other, from Santa Rosa to Gilroy and From Stockton to the Pacific.

You might check out Mark Kohler's web site and radio show - Tuesdays at 11 Pacific. markjkohler.comHe's an attorney and CPA who specializes in RE investing.

I'm going to try to get prequalified with a few of them and see how it pans out.

What sort of advantages, less cost, do you see panning out?

I'm also looking to get into rowing - either dragonboats on the Willamette or sea kayaks in the Pacific Ocean.

It panned out well for us and got us started, but I'd like to avoid going that route down the road.to be even more exact, I think our loan was a 5/1 @ 6.25% and after 2 years.