All Forum Posts by: Aaron Ameen

Hey Jose—welcome to the forums, and props to you and your wife for getting started and growing your family at the same time. That’s no small thing.

I started investing in 2017 while working full-time and raising a young family too, so I definitely relate to how hard it is to scale when time and income are both stretched thin. What helped me push through that roadblock was getting really clear on my criteria, my time availability, and finding ways to invest that didn’t require me to be everywhere at once.

For me, that meant building a portfolio across a few different states with strong local teams, and I now help other investors do the same—especially folks juggling career and family responsibilities.

Feel free to DM me if you want to chat more or swap notes—I’m happy to share what’s worked for me and what I’d do differently if I were starting again now.

Hey Mat—love the enthusiasm, and as someone who’s actively invested in Davenport and the broader Quad Cities area, I can say: you’re not crazy for considering it.

That said, a couple things to keep in mind from personal experience:

– Older homes (especially 100+ years) often come with deferred maintenance you won’t see on a Zillow listing. Plumbing, foundation, electrical—sometimes the big stuff has been redone, but sometimes it’s just been patched over. Always get a thorough inspection and budget for surprises.

– Having a friend manage the property can work if expectations are super clear. I've done remote investing and relied on informal help before—and I’ve also had to fire a property manager in Iowa who was charging me fees while not even turning the heat on during winter. If your friend is just your boots on the ground and you're managing leases, rent collection, and repairs remotely, just make sure it’s sustainable for both of you.

– $1,200/month on a $100K house in that market isn’t unheard of, especially if it’s move-in ready, but verify those rents with local listings or a trusted agent.

I now help other investors navigate this kind of setup because I’ve made the mistakes already—so feel free to DM me if you want to dig deeper into the market or structure. Iowa can absolutely work—you just need the right eyes on the ground and a solid plan.

Hey Jay—appreciate the transparency here. Balancing work, family, school, and trying to get into real estate is no small feat, especially in SoCal where finding cash flow is like searching for a unicorn.

You’re already ahead of the game just by lining up capital and doing the research. That said, I’ve been down a similar road—working full-time, raising a family, and slowly building a portfolio across three states. What helped me break through was:

– Focusing on one market and building a local team before chasing the next “hot” area. Out-of-state investing works, but only if you treat it like a business and plan for the extra friction.
– Getting real about my actual time availability—I had to choose systems and partners that didn’t rely on me being hands-on.
– Being patient with capital deployment. A $200K HELOC is powerful, but it's also a trap if you rush. Wait for the deal that fits your model—not someone else’s.

I now spend part of my time helping others navigate the same challenges, especially when it comes to out-of-state investing and avoiding some of the early mistakes I made. Feel free to DM me—happy to share some resources and what’s worked for me.

Hey Marcus—really appreciate your perspective here. I actually agree with a lot of what you’re saying, especially around the hidden costs and added friction that come with out-of-state investing. It's absolutely not as passive or straightforward as some people make it sound.

That said, I’ve built a portfolio of 8 rentals across 3 states while working a demanding day job and raising a young family. It’s worked for me—but only because I treated it like a business, built strong local teams, and learned (sometimes painfully) how to vet property managers, plan for delays, and underwrite deals conservatively.

Totally agree that remote investing falls apart fast if you’re chasing cheap deals in rough areas or leaning too hard on spreadsheets without understanding the market dynamics. For me, the only reason OOS has worked is because I focused on markets with strong fundamentals, got clear on my role as an operator, and developed a system that could be duplicated without me physically being there.

It’s not for everyone, and it’s definitely not easy—but it’s possible if you treat it like a real business. Happy to swap notes anytime.

Hey Seth—welcome! Totally hear you on San Diego… beautiful place, but not the easiest for finding cash-flowing multifamily deals. I’ve built my portfolio across a few states, and the Midwest and South have been solid for both cash flow and long-term stability—especially once you’ve got a good team in place.

If you’re still early in the process, I’d focus on picking one or two target markets and really getting to know them inside and out. That makes it way easier to spot a good deal when it shows up.

Feel free to DM me if you want to swap notes or talk strategy—happy to share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in my journey.

Hey Raul—welcome to BP and the investing world. Starting with out-of-state rentals is totally doable (I’ve built a portfolio across three states), but the key is having a reliable team on the ground.

A couple quick thoughts that helped me early on:
– Don’t just chase cheap—look for markets with stable demand and a strong tenant base.
– If you’re leaning toward short-term rentals, double check local regulations. Some cities in the Midwest and South are tightening up. In a lot of cases, mid-term rentals (30–90 days) offer solid returns with fewer headaches.

Sounds like you’ve got the right mindset. Feel free to DM me—happy to share resources and lessons from my own journey.

Hey Ivette, love that you’re being intentional about connecting—getting around the right people early made a huge difference in my own journey. I started investing while working full-time and raising a family, and over time built a portfolio across three states, including out-of-state rentals.

A couple quick tips that helped me early on:

• Start with markets where the numbers actually work. Cash flow is tough in a lot of areas—don’t force it just because a market feels familiar.
• Property management makes or breaks remote investing. Even a great property won’t perform if the team on the ground isn’t strong.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes and learned a lot along the way (and now help others navigate the same journey), so feel free to DM me—happy to share resources and insights to help you get started.

Hey Monica, great plan—house hacking with family can work well if structured right.

Q1 - 20% down or less with PMI?
If you can break even with 20% down, it’s the safer bet—lower payments, no PMI. But if cash is tight, putting less down and keeping reserves might be smarter, even with PMI. Run both scenarios to see what works.

Q2 - How do you value time vs. money?
Since you’re funding the deal, your sister’s contribution should be clear upfront. Options:

• If you’re managing the property, her portion of expenses could be adjusted.
• If you sell later, the equity split can reflect your upfront investment vs. her contributions over time.

Q3 - What else?

• Exit plan—What if she moves out? Would you rent to a stranger or sell?
• Liability—If the loan is in your name, you take all the risk.
• Reserves—Even breaking even, unexpected repairs will come up.

Since cash flow is tight in your market, make sure you’re comfortable holding long-term. DM me if you want to chat strategy!

Hey Devakumar, good on you for running the numbers before jumping in. Based on what you’re saying, this deal doesn’t work—at least not for cash flow.

If you’re losing $500/month upfront, that’s $6,000+ per year coming out of pocket, not counting potential repairs, vacancies, or unexpected costs. Even with tax write-offs, you’re still paying to own this property rather than it paying you.

You asked about tax benefits—yes, rental losses can offset other income if you qualify (income limits apply for passive losses), and depreciation helps, but that doesn’t turn a bad deal into a good one. You can’t write off negative cash flow into profitability.

Personally, I never buy rentals with negative cash flow. If appreciation is your play, just know you’re betting on future market growth, which isn’t guaranteed. Instead, I’d look for:

• Lower-priced properties in better cash flow markets
• A better rent-to-price ratio (aim for 1% or close to it)
• Creative financing options—seller financing or an assumable loan with a lower rate could make the numbers work

If your main goal is long-term appreciation, make sure you’re okay covering that monthly loss for years. But if cash flow is the goal, I’d pass and keep looking. 

Hey Isaiah, congrats on taking the leap! Buying your first rental can feel overwhelming, but once you get through the first one, everything gets easier.

Here are a few ways to get started:

1. House Hack with an FHA or VA Loan – If you're open to living in the property, you can buy a duplex, triplex, or fourplex with as little as 3.5% down (FHA) or 0% down (VA if you qualify). Live in one unit, rent out the others, and cover most (or all) of your mortgage.
2. Conventional Loan on a Single-Family Rental – If you’re buying purely as an investment, expect to put 20-25% down with a conventional loan. Cash flow is tight in some markets, so run the numbers carefully before jumping in.
3. Seller Financing or Assumable Loans – Some sellers are open to creative financing, meaning you might be able to put less down or get a better interest rate than today's market offers. Also, some loans (like FHA & VA) are assumable, meaning you can take over the seller's low-rate mortgage instead of getting a new one.
4. Mid-Term Rentals for Better Cash Flow – If long-term rental numbers aren’t great, look into renting to traveling professionals, medical workers, or corporate tenants. These often cash flow better than standard leases, especially in cities with high property taxes.

Would love to help however I can—DM me if you want to chat more about your first deal!