@Mary Joe Not meaning to be a smart ***, but if you are looking for passive, low return, risk averse, long term investments, what not just invest in a few good income (dividend paying) blue chip mutual funds?

I would also add real estate and bonds to the list as well.I think we are in a deflationary environment (i.e. too much debt and excessively low interest rates) and expect the value of most asset classes to fall over the coming few years.Like you, I'm saving my cash and hoping to buy my first rental property when prices come back down.Best of luck with your investments!

Your statement would never apply in any Texas jurisdiction Not that I am advocating an eviction in light of the current situation in H Town

If you uncover that answer, it may shed some light on the investment (maybe it's good info and it satisfies my skeptical approach)I have found the biggest three seller motivations (with landlords) are:1) Tenants are subpar and current owner is tired of managing (in this, you're inheriting headaches, eviction, and much higher repair costs than you expect). 2)  An estate took over and just wants to get it gone (in which case there is probably a back balance owed that needs to be flushed out along with a general lack of property knowledge). 3)  My personal favorite: the Owner bought via tax sale deed (and therefore does not want to be a landlord, just wants his investment + reasonable return).If everything checks out, it sounds like a great deal bud.  

He told us what he initially wanted and we made an offer around $100,000 less and the seller accepted.We also asked to do this as a land contract with 20% down 4.5 percent interest which he also accepted.At this point I thought to myself, that's it for the year and low and behold the phone rang.

., I already have some rental properties in Orlando that I bought 4 years ago but now the market here is too high and the ROI is low so i have to get a way from Orlando in order to find a good cap rate.Jose Rueda, mostly I search for SFH cause it's very hard to find multi family but it is also an option for me and yes, you right the prices in north FL much cheaper than the south.Raymond Mazzie, Thank you very much for your offer but Tallahassee is too far for me.I'll be happy to get more opinions reg' my postThank you all

@Patrick PhilipThe phrase "buy low, sell high" does not only refer to stocks.  

Hey, I got 30+ comments and 10 or so direct messages of interest in my first apartment, an owner occupied duplex. On one hand, the unit is coming off being occupied by smokers, so its not a taj mahal, on the other han...

Bigger spaces are easier to lease because I can afford to invest money into marketing or split a fee with a broker representing a tenant... however as these are a variety of small office and retail spaces, I'm looking for low-cost advertising solutions.  

Good for you for keeping your rent low for the area and saving your cash.