Lawton Rental Market

[Aaron Jones]

I live in OKC, but I'm considering investing in Lawton. However, I am not really familiar with the area. Any investors holding property in Lawton? How's the rental market there? Specifically, how is demand? Any trouble with vacancy? 

I worry a little bit that the only major employers/reasons to live in Lawton are the Fort Sill AFB and Cameron University, so if for some reason they close the base, the town population/tenant pool will drastically fall. Any other large employers there?

Also, are there decent property managers in Lawton?

Lastly, as for exit strategy, in 3-5 yrs, when I'm ready to sell my property, are there many interested buyers of MFH's?

Lots of questions, I know. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Tommy Ray]

I love this market--other major employer is Goodyear for instance.  Margins are great.  Strategic partnering in this market is needed so you can maintain quality of services, and an eye on everything.  Overlaid with the economic zones this is a great opportunity market.  I am getting houses at 5-20 bucks a sq foot...  The legal marijuana business is bringing money into the city bit by bit.  

More for your consideration:

The following are links to information that the savvy investor would need to combine investment tactics and techniques to generate high yielding ROI. It considers the offensive and defensive virtues of the tax code, and real estate investing. Offensive virtues are equity capture on the buy, rent, forced appreciation on the renovation, appreciation on the hold, principal pay down as the loan amortizes and the conversion of cash to a physical hard asset to prevent losing buying power as cash sits in an interest bearing account that is outpaced by inflation. The defensive virtues are the depreciation and tax code benefits allotted for investing in incentivized areas and / or using vehicles like Self Directed IRAs that can defer tax liability indefinitely and wash it entirely upon your passing as the monies flow to your children or loved ones.

Economic Incentive Zones: https://eig.org/opportunityzones

More on economic incentive zones: https://taxfoundation.org/opportunity-zones-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont/

IRS FAQs on incentive zones: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions

IRA data on the 9.8 trillion stored in IRAs: https://www.ici.org/faqs/faq/Individual-Retirement-Accounts-(IRAs)-FAQs/ci.faqs_iras.print

Self Directed IRA: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/self-directed-ira.asp

Hot Market Data: https://www.zillow.com/lawton-ok/home-values/

https://www.movoto.com/lawton-ok/market-trends/

Market Analysis: https://www.littlebighomes.com/real-estate-lawton.html

Housing Data: https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ok/lawton/real-estate

Dated (2015) market data from HUD: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/pdf/LawtonOK-comp-15.pdf

Oklahoma Senator that chairs the armed services committee: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Inhofe