Seattle is Hot Stuff!

The 2013 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary, and technology growth. These factors provide a good indication of the underlying structural performance of regional economics. 

This year, Seattle jumped seven spots in the ranking, from 13 to six. Seattle was noted for both its job growth and its wage growth.  

Seattle is a great market for real estate investment!

Happy Investing!

Buy Vs. Rent

According to Trulia, some of the best cities in the US in which to "buy" rather than rent are:
Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Little Rock, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Denver, Ft. Worth, Houston, New Orleans, Birmingham, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Orlando, Columbia (SC), Charlotte, Virginia Beach, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

I have two rental properties in Oklahoma. My cash profit on both properties was over $10,500 for the 2012 fiscal year. Yet, with deductions for mortgage interest and depreciation, I reported a total net profit of $33 on the two properties on my IRS income tax. Gotta love income-producing real estate for cash flow and tax deductions!

And to round out the rent vs. buy consideration: It is better to rent in Honolulu, or the San Francisco Bay area, rather than buy.

Happy investing!