Area choice for SFR

[Yushengji Zhou]

First time investor from California. I plan on buying a SFR in Dallas Fort Worth area for about 220K. I wonder what area would be a good choice. I was looking at the TCU and Joint Force base area. However, for my budget there is not many options available. I wonder if Fort Worth is like Dallas there is more developing on the north side and People are tend to move to the North side? I plan on take a trip to there to know the city better. Just wonder what area would be a decent choice

[Bruce Lynn]

TCU area is very tough rent/price.  Old houses at super high prices.  Nice area though and properties probably will hold their value as long as kids go to school in person at a building/campus.  So if you are just trying to protect your principal, probably not a bad place to buy.  I think one other trick there is the season.  Miss it for some reason and you may be stuck with the property for months of vacancy.  I've seen that this year.  Nobody renting in February, so if it is vacant then, you get to wait probably until August, as that immediate area and price range probably doesn't draw other tenants for the most part.

JRB Carswell/River Oaks area, completely different type of area and clientele.  I like it.  Prices probably 1/2 of TCU area, but it's probably not as nice.  These days I'd say if you're lucky maybe you can find in this are $250,000, but TCU maybe $500,000 and up.  Obviously there can be exceptions, but just to give you general idea.