Advice on where to invest for new investors

[Alicia Tingey Geddes]

Hi BP friends, 

My husband and I are saving up for our first property through travel work.  We are willing to move anywhere in the country that has a good real estate market, and would like to live in places for a few months before we invest. If you guys could start over, where are the best places in the country to invest in real estate? 

[Mike Kehoe]

@Alicia Tingey Geddes I'd strongly consider living in Raleigh-Durham, NC, and investing in the great tertiary markets in and around the Research Triangle. The Triangle offers a great quality of life, no matter your hobbies or interests. Personally, I'd choose the Old West Neighborhood of Durham to live in because of its walkability to restaurants and shopping. Durham has great culture and vibrancy. Either way, depending on where you are in the Triangle, you're only about 2.5 hours to the beach and 3-4 hours to the mountains. 

Regarding investing, you can achieve the 1% rule or better and BRRRR with a low barrier entry in cities like Burlington, Mebane, and Greensboro. The Research Triangle and surrounding areas hit most if not all of the markers you look for when underwriting real estate markets.... population growth, income growth, house value growth, crime trends, job growth, business-friendly state, landlord-friendly (some areas are not as friendly as others).

PM me if you have any questions!