All Forum Posts by: Brian Dolbeare

@Charles Carillo. That's how I always felt too.  I'm struggling with the idea that it is somewhat normal in this market but it does seem like it would be a negative to potential tenants.

Hi everyone,

I’m new to the Pittsburgh market and looking for recommendations (positive or negative) for property management companies that handle small multi-family properties. I’d love to hear about your experiences—whether it’s someone who goes above and beyond or companies to avoid. Any insights or tips for finding a good property manager in this area would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

I’m considering purchasing a small multifamily property in Pittsburgh that I really like, except for one potential drawback: it has 100% street parking.

In my current market, lack of off-street parking would be a significant negative, especially during winter. I’m still new to the Pittsburgh area, and I’m curious to hear from others more familiar with the market:

• * How much of a drawback is street-only parking for renters in Pittsburgh, especially during snowy winters?
• * Does it significantly affect rental demand, vacancy rates, or rents?
• * Are there creative solutions landlords use to address tenant concerns about parking in this area? (for instance, this property has a backyard that could become parking; however, there is no way to access it unless the neighbors allowed us to use there driveway to get there).
• * Are there any other downsides I might not have considered with street-only parking?

I’d love to hear your insights or experiences managing properties with similar setups in Pittsburgh. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi all, I'm relatively new to real estate investing and I'm struggling with determining accurate market rents in larger markets, like Pittsburgh. I've looked at tools like Rentometer and Zillow, but the rent estimates are all over the place. I've also checked MLS listings and Facebook Marketplace, but there still seems to be a ton of variability in rent prices. How do you confidently project rents when evaluating deals in these types of markets? Are there specific tools or methods you rely on to get more accurate estimates? Any advice would be appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to be back in real estate investing after some time away. Just last week, I closed on my first multi-family property, and I’m scheduled to close on my second next week. Both are in a small market in Illinois, where I have family involved in real estate and construction, so it’s been a great way to jumpstart my multi-family journey.

As I'm looking to expand, I’m particularly interested in out-of-state investing, since the DC area where I live is a bit too expensive for my investment goals. I’m focusing on markets like South Carolina (Columbia, Spartanburg, Greenville), Ohio (Akron), and Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh). I’m hoping to connect with investors who have experience in these areas and are willing to share their insights.

Right now, my primary focus is on Yield and Cash-on-Cash return, and I’m looking to build a solid team around these investments. I’ve been in the single-family space for several years but am excited to dive deeper into multi-family properties. Looking forward to learning from and collaborating with everyone!

Thanks! Brian