I paid cash, I received my deed in about 2 weeks, and I’m paying taxes on the land now.

Crunching the numbers and having a clear strategy is essential for your any real estate investment.

I am unsure if they are a good investment, but I am leaning towards yes, I don't have anyone around me to ask so I decided to come here.House 1. rents for $825/m the loan will cost me $13,000 as a down payment and $6,000 closing costs, and should cash flow approx $275/m after mortgage payment are made.House 2. rents for $600/m the loan will cost me $13,000 as a down payment and $6,000 closing costs, and should cash flow approx $50/m after mortgage payment are made. 

Purchase price: $82,000 Cash invested: $70,000 Bought a property that someone started a rehab on and finished it up.

Lucy,  I would need to know the numbers to say, and whether this is a cash deal or mortgaged.I had looked at College Station myself, but concluded that it does not pencil out.I own a SF house in an upscale area of McAllen, TX and a quadplex nearby.So far, TX has been my worst market - property taxes just ruin the cash-flow.  

Rates are higher than they've been and it's harder to find cash flow.

Why not 1031 into cash flowing properties out of state?

Purchase price: $575,000 Cash invested: $140,000 I live in the house that I bought it as a long-term investment.

There are a few reasons for this: 1) They are costly and the Exchange intermediary may require a whole host of inspections including environmental reports etc and 2) One has to come up with the cash to buy the new property without getting the equity out of the first property - not everyone can do that - add in having to get a loan while still being obligated to the loan on the “sale” property.

Cash invested: $50,000 Retail syndication project, investment on 1 of 37 units in the development.