Brett - Thanks for chiming in, your comments have certainly helped.You are right, institutional activity can be a great sign of market health and certainly it's no secret all the big cities in Texas are attractive right now.

@David Edward Gaines welcome to the site.I too am looking to ad some more commercial investments to my portfolio.What attracts you to commercial over residential?

Very attractive and durable-- pretty cost effective as well!

@Joel Owens Well, I am looking for our first home, really just any options, I'd really like to find a duplex that can split and lower my mortgage out of pocket expense. that's why that 50% rule seems so attractive.

But these areas are much less attractive as appreciation prospects.I've been graphing out Zillow market data by zip code(http://www.zillow.com/research/data/); specifically Price to Rent ratios.

I am sure it's not just RE, but we sure seem to attract the most scum among humanity...Here comes a plug for BP.  

If you don't know anyone that will invest in your deal, you will have to attract that capital.  

And yet the stock market is at an all time high, and real estate not so much.Surely I jest.I think one of the several attractions of real estate is the control, decision making of the investor. 

However I am very familiar with Clark, NJ and with proper tenant screening this could have been avoided.Clark is a great town, very desirable and easily attracts high quality renters.  

I find Odesk attracts the VA’s I want to hire.