Interested in Out-of-State Investing in Oklahoma City

[Andrés Aguilar]

Hi, this is my first post on Bigger Pockets. I've been interested in out-of-state real estate investing for a couple of months, and Oklahoma City, OK has been on my list. A couple of the things that I like about this city are:

- Population is growing (roughly 2% from 2020 to 2022, and roughly 20% from 2010 to 2022)

- Jobs are growing (18% over the last 3 years)

- Homes are affordable (Zillow's Home Value Index is $201,512)

However, some of the things that concern me are:

- Tornado risk

- Cash flow

Are houses built in Oklahoma City generally built to withstand tornadoes? I'd hate to have my first real estate investment get wrecked by one. Should I avoid investing here for this reason?

Is it hard to find cash flowing properties in Oklahoma City? From my research, it seems like Moore, OK (adjacent to OKC) may cash flow well. Are there any other neighborhoods/regions of Oklahoma City that have demonstrated good cash flow but also decent appreciation?

Thanks in advance for your responses. I'm excited to be a member of the Bigger Pockets community!