East Baltimore Vs West Baltimore

[Nick H.]

I have two BRRR deals on the table. Two houses they are both 4 bed room houses about 1450 Sqft a peice one is in west Baltimore close to gwyns falls and coppin state the other is in East Baltimore close to Johns Hopkins School, YMCA and Giant. I can purchase only one. The west Baltimore property acquisition price is 37k and the East Baltimore house is 40K both will need 30K thousand in repairs. (The house in West Baltimore we may be able to drive the price down more because of a piping issue that is already factored in the repair cost.) I wanted to know which area would be best for attracting tenants and I have heard about Johns Hopkins spending development dollars and wondered if that is something I should consider in making my decision ? I would like to go section8 for my tenants.

[Ian Barnes]

It really doesn't matter East vs West, there are thousand of people with vouchers.  The problem right now is they aren't issuing new vouchers, the only people looking for properties are moving from one house to another, and thus people are being much pickier and demand nicer places. Most voucher tenants don't base where they live on where in the city the house is located, they base their decision on the size of the house and how close it is to family and friends.