Jasper Arkansas Investing Potential

[Allen Berrebbi]

On a recent episode of the podcast, I remember hearing one of the hosts discussing this town as a good place to invest but have not been able to find the show notes. I believe it was either Tony or Henry Washington. Anyone can give me some insights? Looking for a long term play with rent stability more than making huge cash flow.

[Mike Fingleton]

I read an artcile in The Economist not too long ago that mentioned how smaller towns like Jasper can offer stable rental demand if you play your cards right... I’ve spent years exploring off-the-beaten-path markets, so Jasper definitely caught my eye. The appeal, in my experinence, is a steady local base plus some vacationers passing through.

I’ve got a freind who scooped up a place near the Ozarks and found that while huge cash flow was harder to come by, the consistent occupancy gave them fewer headaches over time. A big part of the puzzle is making sure you run a solid cash flow analysis. I’m talking about getting thorough with expense estimates, factoring in property taxes, insurance, and a cushion for maintenance. Others rely on networking... hooking up with probate or divorce attorneys who sometimes have leads on properties that aren’t widely marketed.

If you decide to hire a property manager in the Jasper area, maybe chat with a few owners who’ve used them. Meanwhile, if you ever consider other markets for diversification, places like Omaha, Chicago, Austin, San Diego, San Antonio or right here in Phoenix each have their own flavor of opportunity.

Out of curiosity, how do you see Jasper fitting into your broader investment goals?