Locations to best invest in PA

[Kevin Salamea]

I'm looking to invest in small multi-families in Pennsylvania, ideally in the $80- 120k purchase price range.If possible !

I'm live in Old bridge, NJ and due to high property taxes in New Jersey, PA seems like the best state to invest in(Tavel time ) I'm trying to identify rental markets and research, while trying to establish a team.

I've done some research and came up with a few areas in PA include Allentown, Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Scranton, reading and Kutztown

I'm hopping to cash flow between $100-200 per unit is possible (with property management), and can reasonably expect some appreciation in the next 10-20 years (2-4% per year would be ideal, though achieving positive cashflow on my first purchase is my #1 focus). Also important is being able to find a reliable property manager in the area.

I'd love to hear from local investors – am I looking at the right areas? Where else should I consider? Is there anything I should consider before investing in PA? Are single family’s an option ?

[David Ribardo]

@Syed H. is spot on. Everyone in NYC / NJ wants to come over here to invest, and there is a ton of uneducated, out of state money that is driving prices up rapidly here. It's hard to find a good deal these days and requires hustling. 

From my perspective, all of those aside from Scranton are the same market. One team (agent, property manager, contractor, etc.) can take care of anything in Lehigh or Northampton counties. Sell SFHs regularly go in the $80-120k range, and I just closed on a duplex yesterday in that price range, so yes that opportunity is there for you. The key thing is choosing the right people, more than the market. When I first got started, I bought some houses in great areas that should have been home-run investments. Unfortunately, because I didn't have a good contractor or property manager, I ended up losing money for the first two years before turning them into a success. Focus on building a solid team... and good luck!