All Forum Posts by: Jimmy Lieu

Hey Zachary, welcome to BP! I’ve seen quite a few investors look into working with Rent to Retirement, and while some have had decent experiences, others prefer to have a bit more control and build their own local teams. A big pro is that they offer turnkey options, which can make things simpler for newer investors who want a more hands-off approach. On the flip side, turnkey usually means paying a bit of a premium, and sometimes the deals don’t cash flow as well as something you find on your own. If you’re looking for markets that can still hit the 1% rule and have strong fundamentals, Columbus, Ohio is a great example. I moved here in 2020 from Portland and now own 10+ rentals—it’s still affordable with $120K–180K price points, strong population and job growth, and companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, and Honda moving in. So whether you go turnkey or build your own team, it’s worth considering markets like this where you can get both cash flow and appreciation. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Dave, welcome back to BP and props to you and your wife for jumping back in after some time away. Honestly, your thought process is solid and a lot of investors are facing that same challenge right now—high interest rates making cash flow tighter than we’d like. Playing the long game can work, especially if you’re buying in a strong market with steady rent growth and good fundamentals, as long as you’ve got enough reserves and aren’t banking on appreciation alone. Personally, that’s why I like markets where you can still find deals that hit the 1% rule today, even with current rates. I moved from Portland to Columbus, Ohio in 2020 to invest and now own 10+ rentals here, and we’re still seeing properties in the $120K–180K range that cash flow from day one, with strong population and job growth driven by big companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Honda. It’s also landlord-friendly, which helps the numbers make more sense. I wouldn’t say you’re overthinking—it’s smart to run the numbers carefully—but also keep in mind you might have to look beyond your backyard or get creative with negotiations to find a true winner. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Shima, welcome to BiggerPockets! It’s totally normal to feel that way after a tough first experience, but the fact that you’re ready to jump back in says a lot. A lot of folks find it’s way less stressful the second time around because they’ve learned what worked and what didn’t. One thing that can really help is picking a market with strong fundamentals and building a solid team so you’re not trying to do everything yourself. For example, Columbus, Ohio has been a great cash-flowing market with strong population and job growth and major companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, and more moving in. You can still find affordable properties in the $120K–180K range that hit the 1% rule and cash flow from day one, which can give you some breathing room and less financial stress. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Adam, welcome to BiggerPockets! Sounds like you’ve already got a great foundation with your Florida rental and your background in engineering and business—those skills will serve you really well in real estate investing, especially on the analysis and strategy side. One of the coolest things about this community is how many different ways there are to build a portfolio, and since you like numbers, you’ll probably find a ton of value in digging into market data, analyzing deals, and stress-testing returns. If you’re ever open to exploring other markets, Columbus, Ohio has been a strong one for cash flow and appreciation lately, with properties in the $120K–180K range that can still hit the 1% rule and solid long-term fundamentals like population and job growth. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Michael, good question and it's something a lot of people overlook when getting into househacking. In most cases, lenders don't just look at the debt side—they also factor in the income from the property. So if the property is rented out or has strong rent potential, they'll often use a portion of that income to offset the debt when calculating your DTI, which can actually help rather than hurt your borrowing power. How much of the rental income they count depends on the lender and the loan product, but typically they'll use somewhere around 70–75% of the documented rental income to offset the mortgage. So while your total debt does increase, your qualifying income can increase too, which can keep your ratios in check or even improve them if the deal cash flows well. It's not automatic or guaranteed—you do need solid documentation—but househacking doesn't necessarily make it harder to qualify for future loans. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Stephanie, congrats on getting that first duplex locked in! Minneapolis and Milwaukee have gotten tighter over the last few years, so you're not alone in feeling the deal flow pain. If you're open to other Midwest markets, Columbus, Ohio is definitely worth a look. I moved here from Portland in 2020 to invest and now own 10+ rentals, and what drew me here was the strong macro story—population and job growth, major companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, and Facebook investing heavily, and properties that still hit the 1% rule in the $120K–180K range. It's very landlord friendly, and there's a strong investor community with solid agents, property managers, and contractors who regularly work with out-of-state investors. A lot of folks use BRRR or long-term rental strategies successfully here because the numbers still work. AirBnB can definitely be a good play too, but it usually requires more active management, so it really depends on how hands-on you want to be while working full time. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Yossi, welcome to BP and congrats on taking the first step into real estate—it’s honestly one of the best ways to build long-term wealth while keeping your day job. A lot of people start by picking a solid cash-flowing market with strong fundamentals and buying their first rental, often something smaller like a single family home or duplex. When I first started, I moved from Portland to Columbus, Ohio and built my portfolio here because the numbers just made sense. Columbus is one of the few markets where you can still find properties in the $120K–180K range that hit the 1% rule and cash flow from day one, and it’s backed by really strong job and population growth with major companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, and more investing here. You don’t have to go big or quit your job to build wealth—starting with one good deal in a market like this can set you on the right path. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Pradeep, good question. There aren’t a ton of perfect turnkey multifamily companies in every market that also have solid in-house property management, but there are some worth keeping an eye on. In Columbus, a lot of investors like working with local turnkey operators who control both the renovation and management side because it keeps things more consistent and avoids dealing with middlemen. What’s nice about Columbus specifically is that it’s a strong cash flow and growth market, with affordable entry points in the $120K–180K range and steady rental demand driven by population and job growth from companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, and Honda. Memphis, Detroit, and Kansas City also have active turnkey scenes, but the key is really vetting whoever you work with—ask for past performance, talk to other investors they’ve worked with, and make sure their property management is truly in-house and not farmed out. A lot of people on BP have had success in Columbus for exactly this reason, since everything can be handled under one roof. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey, that’s an exciting position to be in and a smart time to start planning. If I were in your shoes and just starting out, I’d lean toward spreading that $800k across multiple smaller properties instead of going all-in on one big one. It gives you more flexibility, spreads your risk, and can create multiple income streams right out of the gate. Since Colorado isn’t the easiest place to get good cash flow, out-of-state makes a lot of sense, and one market I’d strongly consider is Columbus, Ohio. I moved here from Portland in 2020 to invest and now own 10+ rentals, and what I love about this market is the strong macro story—fast population and job growth, huge investment from major companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, LG, Microsoft, and Facebook, and properties still in the $120K–180K range that hit the 1% rule with solid cash flow and appreciation potential. A lot of out-of-state investors are finding their sweet spot here with small multifamily or a few single families, building a strong base without tying up their full budget in one deal. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey JF, welcome to BP and congrats on taking the first steps toward buying your first rental—that’s a huge move. Cleveland can definitely be a solid market for cash flow, and it’s great that you already have a timeline in mind. Since you’re investing from out of the country, having a good team on the ground is going to make a big difference in how smooth things go. I’d also encourage you to take a look at Columbus, Ohio as another strong option since it’s been one of the hottest markets in the Midwest with a lot of population and job growth, big companies moving in like Intel, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Honda, and Microsoft, and it’s still possible to find properties in the $120–180K range that hit the 1% rule and cash flow from day one. It’s a very landlord-friendly market with solid long-term potential. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!