Buying my first Multi-Family in New Bedford, Massachusetts

[Juan Pablo Ceballos]

Hi, I just got pre-approved to buy my first house.  I am thinking on buying a Multi Family in New Bedford, Massachusetts because the house prices are really low and I can rent one or two units.  But a lot of people say that New Bedford is a very high crime area.  I ask for advice from people that own properties or lives in the New Bedford area.  Thanks.

[Aaron Araujo]

Hey Juan,

I've lived in New Bedford my whole life and will be investing here when I become ready. It is one of the larger cities in Massachusetts so with more people comes more crime. There are definitely certain areas you will want to shy away from, however the city is LOADED with multi family properties so you should be able to find a deal in a nice area. I would recommend devoting a day to just driving around the city and becoming familiar with the different areas. There are tons of little pockets that are a nicer than their surroundings. It's easy to find yourself on a rough street, drive half a mile, then be in a much more attractive area.  So it's worth it to take the time to familiarize yourself. If I had to make a recommendation, I would say to start your property search towards the North end of the city then make your way down. Also, you'll want to be sure to screen your tenants well. It's not worth the potential head ache not to. There a plenty of good, hard working tenants in this city, and they'll be easier to find once you weed out the bad ones. 

Anyway, I hope this was somewhat helpful. Good luck and remember, you make money when you buy!