Hi all,I've been following the BiggerPockets forum and podcast for a couple years now, learning all I can and waiting until we had the money saved to buy our first home with an eye toward RE investing.

I'm mainly lurking and learning for now but am also keeping an eye out for good opportunities to flip or hold and lease.

I do agree there are some hot areas of HOUSTON  no doubt, but there are other areas that I have investors buying as much as they can because people are out bidding each other in one spot and taking their eye off the proverbial ball.You make money I feel 5 ways in real estate (as a disclaimer I have messed up personally buying wrong in each of these categories at one point in my investing career):-)...1.

The main things that caught my eye that was recorded 08-22-2006 there was a "MORTGAGE" from SUREPOINT LENDING ABN FIRST RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE NETWORK INC for 106,250.09-01-2006 there is a "RELEASE OF MORTGAGE" from WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK for 94k.

The main things that caught my eye that was recorded 08-22-2006 there was a "MORTGAGE" from SUREPOINT LENDING ABN FIRST RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE NETWORK INC for 106,250.09-01-2006 there is a "RELEASE OF MORTGAGE" from WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK for 94k.There are more things recorded before that but those were the most recent concerning mortgages and you can see everything recorded herehttp://www.lcrecorder.com/records/search/result_do...Any additional info needed, I'll let it be known and I don't need people telling me I shouldn't give information out like what you will find in the link because I trust that by the time someone would try going behind my back to steal this property from me, I will have made something happen by then.But my question is "What does it mean for me and the owner that a lender has recorded a Release of Mortgage" going forward as I have looked up more homes that I figured to be a lost cause and am seeing this Release of Mortgage recorded?

They are cheap to replace, keep prying eyes out when vacant and are one less thing for a tenant to worry about when picking a place.  

Sharing my story, from the money-side perspective, might be eye-opening for those seeking private funding.It began when I subscribed to a "private money" newsletter.  

I'll continue to keep an eye out for other words of wisdom!

Stick to your plan and keep your eyes open and something will pop up.I've started looking about an hours drive away from where I live to find an area that actually makes sense for me.

I wanted to get some people to cast there eyes over my numbers and possibly provide some advice on some metrics they look at when determining an area to invest.So the asking price for the 4plex is $650k and current rents are 3x$260 and 1x$290 (market rent would be around $260-$280 currently).