It's very easy to end up underwater if you buy in one neighborhood thinking the prices are apples to apples next to another.

I was way underwater.

Those of us using leverage will quickly find ourselves underwater on these low cap rate properties.

Additionally, that 5% is an average number, which means plenty of borrowers are still underwater.

The latter would be similar to a short sale case where the property is under water or the debt exceeds the current value due to market decline or physical features ie needs work.3.

Friends of mine with SFHs were quickly underwater whereas I was not.I am cautious about condos because so many experienced investors on the podcasts do not speak favorably about condos or anything that is governed by a board or HOA.

I had tons of friends who were underwater as a result.I think caution is in order.

CALL REALTOR FOR MORE INFORMATION IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.This house is 66 days on the market, which - unless it has massive structural issues or is actually literally under water - is kind of unheard of in the Denver market right now in this price range.I don't know that I'm really insulted by this as much as I am amused.  

Some of the pre foreclosures are underwater, or the balance owed is more than what we would want to pay. 

This is how many went 'under water' or had more leverage than the value of the property during the great recession.Many portfolio owners with plenty of cash will maintain leverage between 50-75% as a safe play.