I'm about to finish my residency in central California and will have a increase in my income. 

It is rare that you get 2% or more, areas like New York City,and parts of California, Texas, Florida, and some other areas you can find them, but not everywhereThe 50% rule is meant to act as a quick analysis tool, to insure the deal is actually deal.

newbie here too. just wished to introduce myself. formerly from washington, dc, i'm just getting started in the staging arena in california and i'm looking to make some connections as well. thanks and sincerely, sydney

Hi, I am a business owner looking to start investing in real estate. I am interested in Multifamily properties and hope to learn a lot from BiggerPockets.comI have always wanted to invest in real estate but always got...

It's exactly that.When I see those stunningly low rates, invariably the underwriter can't tell me how many ways Fannie Mae calculates rental income and when each way is applicable, she can't tell me about net loss carryover, if I'm lucky she knows that you add back depreciation, she can't tell me about how to calculate Patronage Income for all the Berkeley-ites that work at worker-owned socialist co-ops, she can't tell me how much you add back for each business mile driven showing up on page 2 of Schedule C of tax returns, she doesn't know how Fannie and Freddie vary for S Corps, has no idea how transfer taxes work in the Bay Area because she is in Narnia, can't tell me anything about the California Association of Realtors Residential Purchase Agreement, et cetera. 

newbie here too. just wished to introduce myself. formerly from washington, dc, i'm just getting started in the staging arena in california and i'm looking to make some connections as well. thanks and sincerely, sydney

California to Massachusetts. 

I am a native California girl, so this is a big step. 

I am making a big move from Fresno California to Little River South Carolina area.  

Pros = 1) Rented on one side for 15 years, the other for 2 years 2) Zillow is telling me that its worth $52,0003) There is nothing rented for under $400 on Craigslist in that area.4) I have it under contract for $20,0005) I have had an agent/property manager tell me it is worth 65K not to buy if for more then 50K he also has properties in that area. he thinks it should rent for $350 to $375.7) A property manager went there and told me its not in a war zone,but its a 6 with 10 being the worst.8) A second agent gave me an income approach and told me if I wanted to sell it I could get about $40,000Cons= 1) 3rd agent went there and he told me that the area is too rough for him and wont touch it, but has friends that will go in that area.2) I am unable to pull comps- I have used things like myfirstamerican, Eppraisal, Chase estimator, and not getting anything, this is also why I have contacted a lot of agents to give me some feed back. 3) I live in California and will have to find a support team there.