Buying Remotely in Akron Ohio Area recommendations for MFU & SFU

[Ronda R.]

I am a pretty new investor. I live in California but am really interested in buying in Akron to create cash flow. I have researched the neighborhoods and was just there last week with my sister-in-law. She flew in from Hawaii to meet me. We loved the area and want to buy. We met with an investor that was selling off some of his properties, we liked a couple of them in the Kenmore area, specifically 16th & Polk. We also like Firestone park and on the last day explored Highland Square. Would like advice from anyone who knows the Akron area on what areas to focus on. I would like to buy multifamily duplex up to 4 plex to start and have one unit that we can stay in when we come to town and maybe use it as an short term rental when we are not. Personally I liked the Highland Square area around the Mustard seed, the 44303 & 44302 areas. 

I also am interested to hear from those of you who have bought way out of your area and how you went about it. If I had a realtor I trusted their judgement I could see buying a property from pictures and their description. I have made offers from my realtor going out and taking a video on a property I wanted in Portland Oregon. How have you handled it?

[James Wise]

I am up in Cleveland so I don't know to much about the specific Akron neighborhoods but overall there are good spots and rough spots. Sounds like you are doing everything the right way. You flew out and seen the neighborhoods in person. You now have an idea of the types of neighborhoods you want to be in and the ones you want to stay away from.

After that buying a property through a realtor and using a 3rd party home inspector should provide a good amount of protection for you.