4) How do you learn if a) the area is already a rental neighborhood (I would think that would be a good thing if there were more rentals around, right?)

I myself will never buy into crime infested, druggie neighborhoods.

The home was a higher end home being located in a $1million dollar neighborhood.

They're looking for more than just shelter, they wan't a safe, respectable looking neighborhood.

If I want to tracks trends in a particular residential neighborhood or zip code one way to do it would be to:(1) keep track of the number of homes put up for sale per month and (2) keep track of the number of prospective buyers who visit those homes per month and(3) keep track of the number of homes that sell per month.Applying simple math formulas to those those numbers I might find some insight into what is happening in terms of demand and supply.

The neighborhood has a new middle school (opened last fall) and a new elementary school (opened this fall) within walking distance.

If the $1600 is covered with adequate return on the down stroke and the condo is ready to go (move-in condition) and the neighborhood bodes well for appreciation what is the concern?

:welcome: Value is where you find it and what you're comfortable with.I prefer to buy SFHs in good neighborhoods and rent them.

You are right about section 8 tenants, it can be a "win"for both the tenant -- better schools and neighborhood --and for the owner who gets a good cash stream.How about it guys...any section 8 owners out there?

Although I had all good houses in good neighborhoods I didn't want to spend any part of my retirement driving back and painting, roofing etc so I sold out.