First, thank you all so much. As soon as I posted the first response to your first replies I realized my screen name/ranking system mistake. Mea culpa. Trooper is right - it is 4200 with the rental increases. I do plan on staying in my unit which is a 2/1. I live alone, well with two cats, which could be a whole separate blog, but no need for the larger place.
The comps are right around where the sales price is. There have just been very few apartment sales this year. The most recent was in August about 5 blocks east for 715000. But, that is across a major street and this is a better neighborhood and the building is in better shape. While sfr prices have dropped, apartments have not. There is one short pay in the area for 839000 and that was a scam deal for 1.3 million in 2006. The question we have all been asking is why units have not been hit like sfrs. We are a port town and have employment slightly more stable than the rest of the area. Maybe. It is a real question and no one seems to have an answer. The place always rents and quickly. One tenant has been here 30+ years, another 10+ years, the third is the child of the 10+ woman and he has been in his own unit for 3+ years, and I have been here 6+ years. The rents are a little under market, 2/1 should be 1200 and 3/2 1600 to 1650. Right now the 2/1 is 945 (mine) 1040 and 545. The 3/2 is 1440. The landlord will raise the 3/2 to 1600 and the 535 to about 800 before we close escrow. But those are the rents for the year.
FreedomCM is correct on my newbie analysis. My rent would be about 2000 and I could do that with my eyes closed. And, I would get a tax break as well. That allows me to get the tax savings and not kill myself on a 3500-4000 a month house payment. I am here which has its good points and its horrible ones. I am aware of the tenant issues and the building problems. The bldg has been inspected and is in good shape. Foundation good, copper plumbing, Trooper is right about the wiring works, but when you add things like a/c and installed microwaves they really should be on their own circuit. I was not planning on selling. Buy and hold has stood me well, but this market is terrifying. Sorry, again a whole different blog.
Bix - here are the numbers I have:
Principal and interest is 3864.25 & taxes are 729.17 and insurance is 92 so piti = 4685.42 (Interest has been figured at 6%)
plus utilities (water and elec for common area) and gardner are $225 = 4910.42
plus pmi of .05/month of 193.00 = 5103.42
less rent = 1653.42 per month out of pocket - basically rent on my apt.
~630k selling price with your 90k down.
~Monthy take home of about 3450 (keeping my unit out)
~5.8% interest rate
~Taxes of about 7.5k a month (~1.1%) (are you sure this is not 1.25% per year? I have the taxes figured at about 730 a month.)
~1 month of no rent total (Rent reserve~4800) (have that)
~Revolving Maintence repairs (19k year ~1600mo) (OMG forgive me for not knowing where this comes from, but I don't)
~Insurance on the building and the contents of my unit on a condo rider of 92 per month from Farmers.
Believe me I wish I had more than 90K to put down on something. That is all that is in the cupboard. I refused to tap into my deferred comp for a down. Turns out that would have been better than having it evaporate. The rent reserve is a gift from my grandmother that I will not cash until the deal closes so as not to be tempted.
I hope that covers all bases. I'm still pondering...
Thank you all again so much.