New Investor Seeking Insights on the Milwaukee, WI Real Estate Market

[Dzung Doan]

Hello BiggerPockets Community,

I hope everyone is doing well. My name is Dzung Doan and I am stepping into the world of real estate investing. I'm specifically interested in a buy-and-hold strategy for rental properties, with the goal of building a passive income stream. I am beginning with an initial investment capital of around $35K-$50K, and am able to save an additional $3K-$5K per month. I am intending to use a conventional loan for my investments, which would include a 20-25% down payment and a 30-year mortgage.

I am currently considering the Milwaukee, Wisconsin market for my investments. The area's stable economy, consistent population growth, and strong rental demand make it an appealing choice. Furthermore, the rent-to-price ratio in Milwaukee suggests potential for profitable rental properties.

As an out-of-state investor, I am keen on learning from those who have experience in the Milwaukee market. I would greatly appreciate your insights on:

1. The particular characteristics and investment potentials of various Milwaukee neighborhoods.
2. Your personal experiences, both challenges and successes, within this market.
3. Recommendations for local real estate teams, including agents, property managers, and contractors.
4. Strategies that have worked well for you in this market.

In addition, I would be thankful for any advice on things to watch out for or consider while investing in Milwaukee.

My goal is to make informed decisions as I embark on this real estate investing journey. Your insights, advice, and recommendations would be incredibly valuable to me.

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. I am eager to learn from this community and grow alongside you all.

Best regards,

Dzung Doan

[Nick Harrington]

Hey Dzung - 

Milwaukee attracts a lot of out of state investors for four main reasons in my eyes: 

1.) The average duplex price is $185k
2.) Strong renters market - as Marcus mentioned, we are in the top 10 in the US in terms of renter demand
3.) Landlord friendly state of WI
4.) Amount of duplexes - Milwaukee has the highest percentage of population living in duplexes at 20%

Mix these together - you have a market with cash flowing properties. On top of this, Milwaukee is a consistent market in terms of appreciation... we don't see the significant swings in pricing like a Boise, Austin, LA, etc is seeing now. 

In terms of neighborhoods - would be happy to have a deeper dive into areas I see out of state investors succeed in. My general rule of thumb is being out of state, I would rather your first deal in Milwaukee be a single / double in terms of return, but it gets you comfortable with the market and your core team (Agent, PM Company, GC's), and most importantly, it leaves you with a good taste of investing here. A lot of this will boil down to the location you invest in, the condition of the property, and the PM company you choose to hire.