Yep it really comes down to risk you want to take on.

I've been investing in the stock market for 30+ years, but am at the point where I'm ready to diversify more into real estate.I've been lurking on the forums here for quite some time and I am amazed at the value of the posts and level of knowledge that exists here.

Honestly, big banks have terrible rates on mortgage.Work with a broker, they are your best bet; pricing beats big banks 9 times out of 10.

Can you keep it rented on a regular basis? 

I would really appreciate if you could point me to some of the resources, especially forums focused on the Seattle area.

Also wouldn't mind building a relationship to team up on a project. 

I was hoping to find someone who might want to do a bit of mentoring or something along the lines as i get started.

Hey Karl, @Karl SzymanskiI can definitely understand the temptation to do something close to home, but it likely will depend on whether you are planning to manage these properties yourself (which I personally, wouldn't since you are simply just buying yourself a new job) and where the best forecasted ROI is at. 

That sounds crazy, I know but it depends on how you view cash-flow.

Recently I’m coming across the same issue while bidding on any house in my area EVERYONE WANTS CASH!