All Forum Posts by: Gabriel T.

The two markets I've lived in are Little Rock, (720k metro population) and Brattleboro VT (12,000 population).

I don't know how accurate this site is, but they seem to have similar stats. Brattleboro is not seeing much job growth and has a lot of small businesses as well as some big manufacturers. Little Rock is a lot bigger and has a lot of employers but  is still small in comparison to the markets usually discussed.

https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/vermont/br...

http://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/arkansas/li...

I'm interested in hearing other people's opinions/experiences in their own locations. Do people on here that invest in more rural areas have any thoughts on how their area compares to the bustling urban cities that have 20-50 times the population? It seems like the majority of people on here operate in bigger markets so I am curious about all the people that do invest in smaller areas, whether they are growing/diverse,  or not. 

I noticed most of the discussions on here involve the biggest cities and metro areas in the country; DFW (7.2m metro population), Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, San Francisco, San Diego, Columbus, Indianapolis, Detroit, Memphis all have populations over 1m. When any market is discussed it is usually about appreciation vs. cash flow. It goes without saying the bigger your market the more opportunity, but what are pros/cons of investing in smaller areas?

As someone just starting to learn about real estate I wonder about how market population affects people's strategies. What are the differences in big/small markets and how do small market investors make up for a smaller population?

NaDean Bowles Thanks for the reply! Given my time table I don't plan on do anything in Little Rock, but I will definitively check out CARREIA.

Thomas S. Kurt McDowell Thanks for the reply! I think that makes the most sense, I would probably sell and possibly 1031 when I move because as Thomas S. pointed out, management costs could quickly kill my cash flow. I have heard of a get out of jail free card for a FHA if you get a job that requires relocation, but I doubt it would come down to that.

Hello BP!

The situation: I am graduating this December from UA Little Rock with a BS in construction management. In hindsight I wish I house-hacked instead of rented the past 5 years, but it is what it is and I realize there is not much sense in buying anything in Arkansas now when I plan on moving after I graduate. My REI goal is to own/manage multi-family while scaling as fast/efficiently as possible.

My job will involve travel, every 12-24 months or so. Does anyone have any advice or creative ideas to get into real estate while traveling like this? My initial thoughts are either;

1. House hack immediately and then rent the property when I move. (A little tricky to coordinate with FHA, but could be do-able)

2. Learn the market while i'm there and try to develop a good team, buy a property, move, and manage the manager out-of-state.

3. Get my real estate license in multiple states, utilize reciprocity when available, try to gain experience/ find mentor. (This would be very hard with my work schedule)

I understand this is far from ideal, I am not opposed to using this time to save for when I settle down, but I am eager to get in the game and get my feet wet. Is there any benefit in having sprawled real estate investments? Seems counterproductive to get involved in so many markets, have to learn so many state laws, etc. Looking for thoughts, advice. Any creative ideas I am overlooking, or should I be realistic and wait to settle down?

Hey @Mark Rogers! I have a library card, so I will definitely be checking that out. Thank you for the tip.

Hey @Josh Dillingham, thanks! I did not expect to see any investors from Brattleboro on here :D. Sometimes it seems like the advice on here only applies to bigger markets, but its nice knowing there's deals to be found in the smaller towns. 15k? I can only imagine the state that house was in...

@Dave Visaya Thank you!

Hello BP, my name is Gabriel Trenchard, and I am a student in Little Rock, AR. 

I will graduate this December with a BS in Construction Management. ($0 in student loans)

My wife will graduate this December as well, with an ASN.

I am not sure where my job will take me, so my market is unclear.

Eventually, I would like to settle down within 100 miles of my hometown, Brattleboro, Vermont, which is 5 minutes from New Hampshire as well as Massachusetts. 

In the next 7 months or so I plan to be a sponge on this site, soaking up as much information as I can. Every time I listen to a BP podcast, I add the guest's favorite books to my amazon wishlist. My goal is to read/buy a book a week. (Currently reading "Think and Grow Rich")

My short term goals are to house hack and establish some credibility and financial backing.

My long term goals are to own multifamily properties and increase my cashflow.

I look forward to making some connections and becoming a part of this community!