According to CBS 17 News, Raleigh is the #2 hottest real estate market in the US and Durham is #4.You could even invest on the outskirts as well because I know some people would not want to live directly in the city.

It takes much longer to evict and while they live rent-free you get nothing. 

However, if you sold it now and did a 1031 you could buy a really nice rental that you might like to live in one day. 

If you arnt and your going to live there long term then again.. your other side is paying a very nice chunk of the overall interest.

She of course is in a very different market than you are and it is a house she is living at.

Hi all, I'm looking to invest in this area because it's close enough to where I live (Orange County). 

They probably live at home or have a spouse that pays the bills.

Each time on the first two I have bought in my name, renovated one side while living in the other, swapped sides renovating while living in the other, then rented out both sides when moving on to the next project.

Depending where you are, some utilities are attached to the house and some to the person living there. 

I've bought a total of 8 houses in my life, while I can't touch many on BP, that's a lot to me...mix of primary residences as live in flips, normal primary, and 4 investments.