Rachel,

I work for a real estate investing company, based out of CA. We help people like you purchase investment properties across the United States. What has brought you to the Oregon market?

Let me please add that as an investment real estate company, we have located prime markets across the US that exhibit the necessary fundamentals for stable growth, as well as made relationships with brokers, property managers, lenders, insurance carriers, or any other professional you will need during the buying process.

All I am trying to say is that we have many investment opportunities that offer different means: tax savings, positive monthly income (cash flow), and long term growth.

Best of all, our services cost you nothing. We don't charge you anything to use our services, and we get paid from the builder, just like any other real estate transaction. Furthermore, we don't bump prices to gain more commissions.

It is worth your time to browse our website and see if we can help you. Feel free to call if you'd like to ask any questions about rental markets, anywhere in the US. We have probably been there and seen everything first hand.

Lastly, we are all investors, so we understand the basics of investing.

Good luck to you, and please feel free to call and bounce any ideas off us.

NOTE: Rents are beginning to rise in OR, but the rental market is still soft.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Denton Ward
Nationwide Real Estate Investments
http://www.nwrei.net
denton@nwrei.net

Link below is some information about our company!
http://www.nwrei.net/Docs/Nationwide_Real_Estate_Investments.pdf

Sat Feb 9 2008, 13:16

Hi Rachel, I own several rentals in the Eugene area and can tell you that in my professional opinion rents are on the upswing for several reasons, as well the rental market demographic (tenants) are on the increase. Although, price corrections are on the downswing...this is a good time to begin looking for that rental investment. Because prices have been appreciating since 1995 until only recently stablized/downswing, you need to consider your amount down (20% or more) to put you into a cash-flow positive position...which should increase as rents increase. Because prices are stabilizing or trending downward, your tax base should do the same (Oregon tax base is pegged to a past tax year and increase on a % basis annually)....so, for rents to be increasing, taxes potentially decreasing, your spread should increase. There are also the neighborhoods where tenancy demand might be strongest, so a more effective answer to your question would be based on your locational preference: Eugene, Salem, Portland, etc....visit www.HouseNow.com for a single family search in the latter cities. We are pushing up multiple family listings within the next week (2-4 family). There are many ways to understand how your return may be maximized, but starting with location is numero uno. If you are new to the rental investment game, I advise strongly that this property be where you can monitor and attend to on a moments notice. If you plan to have this investment under professional management, you will have to figure a 8-10% rate of charge into your monthly expense. If this is your first, your best to manage it yourself. When you start building this empire (meaning you acquire several) managing them yourself can be very frustrating.

Sat Feb 9 2008, 11:39

Hi Rachel, Generally speaking, in this area, it is very difficult to find a rental propert that initially has positive cash flow. The mortgage will be higher than what you can rent it for, unless you have a huge downpayment. It is possible to get positive cash flow with a 2, 3 or 4 flex. Single family homes would be a good stragety if you have a well paying job and need some tax writeoffs. Talk to you CPA about this. I have owned rental property for 20 years and it has been very good to me. I highly recommend it for the right person. Read my blog. I have written about this topic.

Fri Feb 8 2008, 20:47

Hi Rachel, Generally speaking, in this area, it is very hard to find a single family home that will initially have a positive cash flow. The mortgage will be more than what you can expect to get in rent. Usually you have to get 2,3 or 4 plexs to have a positive cash flow. If you have a well paying job, investing in single family homes will help to offset your income tax. That could be a good stragety. Talk to your CPA about this. The younger (sooner) you start the better. I have owned rental property for 20 years and it has been very good to me. For the right person, this is a good way to go. Read my blog. I have written about this very topic.

Fri Feb 8 2008, 20:40