All Forum Posts by: Elisha Johnston

Cleveland will have a lower cost of entry and higher cashflow, Columbus a higher cost of entry but probably a good mix of cash flow and appreciation. I will say I've done far more loans for people, the majority of them out of state investors, in Cleveland. You should definitely be able to find decent multifamily properties for under $200k, and multifamily would be my suggestion for starting out if you can swing a larger down payment (depending on loan type, you MAY need 10% more for a multifamily vs a single family, but not always). That way if you have vacancy in one unit, you still have the other that can at least cover some or all of your expenses. 

Happy to answer any questions you have, feel free to reach out whenever! 

Quote from @Elisha Johnston:

Hi everyone! 

Just started working my first W-2 job out of college and looking to start investing ASAP. I've got some family connections to the Cleveland and Columbus area and am wondering if anyone knows if these are good markets to start off in? I'm looking to start off in areas with lower costs coming in, preferably under $100k single families but definitely under $200k.

 If you're looking at Cleveland, I suggest reading The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods to get yourself an understanding on the market.

@Elisha Johnston contact RL Property Management about the Columbus market.

Contact @James Wise about Cleveland.

A good/great PMC will know more about the rental market than the majority of agents!

Hi, Ohio is a great place to invest in real estate. My clients from all over the world will definitely agree please reach out if you have any questions. Best Wishes!

Quote from @Elisha Johnston:

Hi everyone! 

Just started working my first W-2 job out of college and looking to start investing ASAP. I've got some family connections to the Cleveland and Columbus area and am wondering if anyone knows if these are good markets to start off in? I'm looking to start off in areas with lower costs coming in, preferably under $100k single families but definitely under $200k.

Hi Elisha, congrats on the new job! Here in Columbus, we're still seeing deals here that hit the 1% rule with positive cash flow and lots of potential for appreciation. As an investor myself, I moved here from Portland OR because of the strong macroeconomics of the Columbus market. The job market is strong due to major companies moving and developing here like Intel, Amazon, Google, etc. and there's a steady population growth and strong rental demand. You can find rentals at $120k-$180k price points. And the rules are also very landlord-friendly. Happy to connect and answer any questions you may have.

Cleveland is an excellent market to invest in real estate. The buying is very low, rents are great and there’s no shortage of tenants.  I work with many out of state investors. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have or help you with any thing you need as far as property management, contractors or Boots on the ground.

hey Elisha, I live in San Francisco and just bought a triplex and Cleveland for 140k that's cash flowing well. I think there are some good deals out there. Consider doing section-8 if you end up buying in some of the rougher areas. 

@Elisha Johnston

Check out the BP Top 100 Cash Flowing Markets spreadsheet under the "Pick Markets" header on the top of the site.  Great comparative info on some of the better markets around the country right now.

Cheers!