Need some advice - invest? or buy a property?

[Susan Zoe]

Hi there,

I am thinking to buy my first property, I am a full time educator, this would just be a little extra for me. I have about 40K to either invest, or buy a property with.

I found a very simple condo with an excellent rental market in one of the best suburns to live outside of Philadelphia. The mortgage + taxes + hoa fees + insurance = 1050 per month, and the rents are going for 1100 per month.

I'm also on the brink of taking a sabbatical, or even taking a year off, and want to keep the landlord process as simple as possible, even be able to manage it from afar. Maybe this is wishful thinking!

On the plus side, the HOA is well managed, and takes care of all of the exterior things. On the down side, because its a condo, owners have a harder time selling the units. They tend to sit for for a while.

I am not sure I want the hassle of being a landlord, but I do like the idea of owning something, because at the moment I am renting. Eventually I will want to buy a property for myself to live in, but my mind just isn't there with the upcoming sabbatical.

Any advice you have would be great!
Thanks!

[David Fitch]

As an investment, the numbers you provided don't leave any room for cash flow. Once you factor in vacancies, repairs, other random things that pop up, seems like you're guaranteed to lose money. Probably better off parking that $40k in a mutual fund or else shopping around for a better rental property.