All Forum Posts by: Christopher Abele

I take it a step further - I don't mail postcards. I mail a brief, hand written letter where I introduce myself. The challenge is getting to the house that doesn't look distressed. 

As I was considering the question I posed, it might just be, "I'm in real estate acquisitions" and then allow the other person to ask more questions about what that means. That said, I'm still very much interested in hearing other approaches. 

I have a small portfolio (3 SFH) entirely in my own backyard. Between a demanding FT job (that I enjoy,) a wife who also works FT, and two young children, I have no real desire to "all in" to real estate as a FT career at this point in my life. I'd consider my RE business to be more boutique. We want to keep our geographical footprint small. We also can really only handle one acquisition every 12-18 months.

Current State: Knowing the neighborhood(s) we target, and having driven them (regularly) I have a pretty decent list of "looks distressed" properties. I also do post to local neighborhood groups on Facebook periodically but recently have cut down on my social media dramatically (too much drama, arguing, and general hatred towards one another.)

That said, when you meet someone for the first time and they say, "What do you do for a living" I've (finally) pivoted to say, "I own a small real estate business" first (instead of after talking about my W2.) 

My Question: How do I quickly position "what I do" to focus on "I'm looking for houses in this area." What's the 5 word pitch? I buy houses? Something not as cliche? I'm curious how other people approach this to let others know, "I'm the local guy who wants to reinvest into our shared community." 

@Jerryll Noorden - that’s a really excellent point.

Can you offer tips that aren’t going to produce properties that are on every list imaginable?

@Stone Jin

Depends what’s needed!

@Prithvi Bisht

How many properties? And how much / what type of work? Just general handyman type stuff at turns or rehabs?

Feel free to DM me.

And lateral, and sump, and tile. . . $40k to start, give or take. Granted the ordinance was enacted and repealed in the past 60 days, we're all just kind of waiting for the new ordinance that continues to place financial responsibility for repairing infrastructure on homeowners. 

 

Hi @Cameron Moran!

Fellow BGSU (and University of Toledo) grad here. I own a small real estate business (note: I treat it like a business and not an investment) in Toledo and (gasp) Maumee. 

Toledo REIA and PIN (Toledo Property Investors Network) are both professional organizations that might help further your education and networking locally. They meet the first (and second) Tuesday of every month.

My experience is that REIA tends to be heavy-handed with the sales pitch, while PIN is more investor focused. If you'd like to join me as my guest at the next PIN meeting feel free to drop me a DM. 

This thread has all the things.. intrigue, mystery, and plot twists everywhere you look. 

@Engelo Rumora - hit me up with details on all those illegal PM's. I'm happy to blow the whistle and split the profits with you. 

@Thomas Haessig
Keys to investing in Toledo: 

1.) Know your neighborhoods. Property values and rent rates can be very different just by crossing a street. 
2.) Contractors are a challenge at best, with lots of local investors having dealt with shoddy work IF it even gets done at all; a decent number of contractors have been known to get started on a project and then disappear so that they can get started on the next project. 

If you're an OOS investor, be sure to work with a realtor investor like @Eric Puffenberger who can share information on the street-by-street differences and can provide contractor references. 

@Kevin Cullen

Why Toledo vs your own back yard in Dundee?

There is a sever shortage of rentals midway between Toledo & Ann Arbor.

 Since when do you not have hookers and blow in Columbus?