Less cash flow than all the hype would suggest.

[Joe S.]

I have been investing for years, so I may know a little something… 

In my experience, at least in Texas the taxes increased faster than rent increase. However, I do have properties in Mississippi. Taxes are not so bad there. Turnovers, repairs, property management fees, vacancies, and evictions all but eat up the cash flow.

Are there any properties that make money ….. well sure, but not quite like is being Marketing from those that have a financial stake in the game of making it sound easy..

The reason I’ve made it as an investor is because  we have done flips etc. to offset not being able to depend upon the rentals. Keep in mind this is from a single-family property standpoint. I’m not experienced in apartments. 

Just sharing my viewpoint and I don’t have anything to sell anyone so it could make my viewpoint a lot less glamorous.

[Corby Goade]

LTRs are defintiely a marathon- slim margins in B or better areas for the first few years will just get sweeter and sweeter...not so much in C and D areas. My advice is simple- buy nicer properties in nicer areas with the expectation that the first few years will be slim, and then all of the sudden you will be a millioniare. It takes patience. 

Properties that perform well out of the gate, at least on paper, are often not great long term bets. Ironically, the opposide is true for the ones that don't look great for years 1-5 or so.