If you truly want to leverage your house buying powers into investing, look at the area between Penn Station and Johns Hopkins for small multis.

If you haven't already, check out some of the links below to help you get started.If you haven't already, start here: http://www.biggerpockets.com/starthereFind and connect with other BP members that are in your area: http://www.biggerpockets.com/meetSet up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsRead Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingLast but not least, don't underestimate the power of participating in the forums!

or does that include power / cable.  

@Jade GoringFrom what I have read and heard it seems to be a powerful tool to have in your arsenal while being an investor.

Since March I have obtained 3 listings on good properties which I am marketing through my era powered broker, social media, open houses, etc.  

@Robert Whitelaw   generally speaking I agree with the buy hold will win the day.. but its just cannot be a blanket statementthere was  a very big apartment owner here in PDX that rolled up all his units  and cashed in 20 million in equity.. went to vegas in 05 on a massive 1031... bought 100 million in multi there.vacancy rates as you know on fully leveraged multi  in excess of about 10 to 15% put huge strains on those and much more than that you have to feed them.vacancies in 08 in vegas hit 10 to 40%  he LOST THEM ALL.... had he just held pat on his vanilla PDX he would be fine and our stuff here has sky rocketed  must like a little brother to silicon valley real estate.. 

There's always plenty of deals out there just wanted to persist and make this one work.Just another learning experience on the road to mastery.Thanks all "Do the thing and you shall have the power" -Ralph Waldo Emerson-

If any components that are electrically powered or powered by gas fail.c.

@William Powers wow that sounds like a great property in that you can rent it out for that price.

Its a small residential town that services a larger regional city of Gladstone which has some natural gas plants, a port, refinery, smelter and power station.