Cleveland Investors, should I buy in Clark-Fulton?

[Joshua Hollandsworth]

Is the Clark-Fulton neighborhood a bad area to invest in? I personally would not want to drive around this neighborhood knocking on doors for rent. I also wouldn't want to drive through Clark-Fulton at night to replace a broken light fixture. Clark-Fulton seems to be a very profitable market. I know that I could hire a PM so that I never have to deal with tenants personally. I would like honest answers. Part of me says "Josh this is a very dangerous neighborhood, and you know it." But, the other part of me says "Josh, why do you care if it's a bad neighborhood? Hire a PM company so you don't have to deal with residents personally. It's no different than investing out-of-state." I am willing to put my money into these cash flowing duplexes, all day long. I just don't want to continuously travel here. I really do want to get over my fear of investing in bad areas. I have a feeling I am missing out on a lot of cash flow. Thanks in advance!

[James Wise]

I think a higher class neighborhood is better for a new investor. You really need a training wheels type property to get moving & learn the business. Clark Fulton is not were you go to learn.

That's not to say you can't make money in that neighborhood though. It's just gonna be peppered in with more stretches of loss. 

When you are making money it's gonna be good money, but your gonna hit be stretches of loss, Damage, Evictions etc... Be prepared to weather that storm when it comes. If you have a larger portfolio & some infrastructure behind you it can be nice because you can off set your losses with all of your gains. Owning only 1 & being realitivly cash poor is risky.

As for door knocking as a way to collect rent. Dont do it. Good way to get yourself hurt or robbed.