Investing in Milwaukee/Kenosha Wisconsin

[Ricardo Ortiz]

Hello everyone, I been looking for rental property (2/3 unit) in Milwaukee/Kenosha Wisconsin areas but not sure how rentals do out there. I'm currently living in Lake County Illinois but do have friends/family in both those areas. I visit them once in a while but never really explored outside the areas. I guess my question would be is anyone currently renting property in those areas? If so, how has It been working out for you?

[David Mo]

Hi @Ricardo Ortiz! 

I'm a Milwaukee based realtor and investor. Milwaukee is a very diverse market and can have drastic changes as you go from neighborhood to neighborhood. Because of this, I think your experience and success will vary heavily based off which areas you choose to invest in, and the team you put together. With you being out of state, I think a solid property manager will be a huge part of your long-term success.

Your renting experience will vary depending on which areas you choose to focus in. C class areas are easier (less expensive) to get into, but you're more likely to run into headaches and maintainance requests that cut into your bottom line.

My renting experience in West Allis which I'd consider a C+ to B- area has been great so far. Apart from 1 problem tenant, the rest have been wonderful with no complaints and they take good care of my properties. 

Overall, I think your experience and success will depend on the areas you choose to invest in, and the people you have on your team based off those areas. Milwaukee is great because you can succeed with a plethora of strategies and in different areas...I personally think it's more about figuring out which areas/strategies resonate the most with you and what you're trying to accomplish, and then working from that. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like to connect! I'd love to chat more about it anytime :)