All Forum Posts by: Marc Rice

Hey BP, 

Are there any Section 8 investors in Cleveland? I'v been looking for a outstate market and Cleveland looks affordable compared to NY. My current strategy is built around subsidized rent and was wondering what Section 8 looks like in Cleveland. Are there enough tenants with market rate vouchers in demand for housing? Is it easy to find subsidized vouchers? What are some good C class neighborhoods that are good for section 8? 

Any info on out of state investing and section 8 specifically would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi all! I'm an active real estate investor focused on opportunities in the Cleveland area, primarily working with the BRRRR strategy. I'm currently looking to connect with experienced and dependable general contractors familiar with the local market. Excited to build a strong team!

Hi BiggerPockets community! 👋

I’ve been lurking on the forums for a bit and finally decided it’s time to jump in and introduce myself.

I’m a brand-new investor based in Los Angeles, and I’ve set a big goal: buy 10 rental properties in the next 6 years, starting with my first one before the end of this year. I’m 34, work full-time in a job I love (so moving is not an option), and after crunching the numbers… I’ve realized investing locally in California just doesn’t make sense for my strategy or budget.

So, I’m preparing to become an out-of-state investor — and I’ll be honest, that’s the part that intimidates me most. The idea of buying a property in a totally unfamiliar market, from afar, and needing to build a trustworthy team in that area… it’s both exciting and overwhelming.

Here’s what I’m already doing to prepare:

• Listening to BiggerPockets and BP Rookie podcasts religiously (they’re my road trip buddies now).
• Reading The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner.
• Browsing these forums about 20 minutes a day.
• Considering taking the BiggerPockets Rookie course (would love to hear honest reviews if you’ve taken it!).

Obviously, there’s so much more self-education I need to do beyond just these things — but that’s where I’ve started. I’m currently dedicating about an hour a day to learning, and I welcome any suggestions for what else I should be diving into at this stage.

Right now, I haven’t selected a market yet — I want to make a well-informed decision, not just follow trends. I’ve got ~$150K ready to put toward my first property and am more than willing to travel for due diligence, but I need help building a smart, strategic roadmap.

If you’re an experienced out-of-state investor, I’d love to hear:

• How you chose your market(s)
• How you built your team remotely (agents, PMs, contractors, etc.)
• Any mistakes you made early on that I should watch out for
• Encouragement or success stories that helped you feel confident despite the distance

I know the road ahead won’t be easy, but I’m so determined to do this right. Appreciate any advice, insight, or even just a “you got this” from others who’ve been here before.

Thank you in advance, I can't tell you how much I appreciate any guidance! 🙏

—Shyla

Hello. the area where I live (northern VA) isn't the best for multifamily / rentals.

Would it be a better idea to take the money I have and use it as a downpayment for a house hack in Northern VA or invest out of state in rentals or multifamily?

One of my struggles while searching for rental properties is not knowing the rental prices in the area.  As you know, rent can change just across the street in some neighborhoods and more significantly from 1 neighborhood to the next.

My preference is to have an individual realtor for each town, a realtor that actually knows the neighborhoods vs a realtor who just uses online data to make a guess... I can't confidently make a purchase based on a guess of what rent would be, $100-200 per month could be the difference between a good purchase and a bad one.

How do you all remedy this obstacle?  I'm in WI and open to buying a property pretty much anywhere.  I've tried using Rentometer and Redfin to get rental prices, but often i'm seeing theres no equal "comps" to evalute with.

Nice to meet you all!

I'm John Wells and I've been listening to the Bigger Pockets for the past few months and am starting to begin my business. I'm very interested in a potential House Hack with a duplex or multi-unit to start and expanding from there. 

In my spare time I am very involved with NAMI and do a lot in the community to support their mission. Please reach out, I would love to connect. Especially would love to meet anyone in the Columbus Area!

Hi all! 

I'm an out of state investor looking to invest in the Columbus OH market. 

Does anyone have any contractor referrals for rehabs for the area? 

Much appreciated! 

Hi everyone! 

My name is Sam, and my husband and I are looking into getting started with investment properties. We are looking to start with LTRs. My husband has a finance background and has done a lot of research on real estate investing. We previously flipped our first house we lived in on our own. We aren't afraid of hard work, but do not have as much extra time on our hands to do more in depth renos. I previously worked full time, but due to changes in our family I now have the time to do the leg work to get started with this process. I am new to the real estate world, but it is something I have always been interested in. I'm here to soak up all information and continue building our team in order to make our first deal. With how much Columbus is booming we know there are great opportunities and we are looking forward to starting this journey. Would love to hear from other Columbus LTR investors regarding which models and geographic areas you have found the best success. I look forward to networking! 

Hi Everyone!

I'm an out-of-state investor about to close on my first investment property. It’s a 2,184 sq ft duplex built in 1925, located in a C grade neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. I'm budgeting around $30K to $50K for the rehab.

If anyone knows a couple of great licensed General Contractors in Columbus, I’d love to hear about them. Preferably GCs with solid experience rehabbing older homes and working with out-of-state owners.

I’d be grateful for any names or contact info you can share.

Thanks for your help!

Wayne B.

Hello BP Community! I am a new-ish real estate investor (on and off BP but finally ready to connect with this awesome community) with one 4-unit property out of state in Cleveland, Ohio purchased in 2021 that has a cash-on-cash return over 30% with the changes I've made (rent increases, conversion LTRs to STR/MTR). I did this with minimal knowledge so there was a large dose of luck and timing, lots of hard work.

 I live in one of the highest cost markets in the nation, and recently lost insurance coverage and now have the California FAIR plan (yay). For that and a few other reasons we are selling. Likely to remain here and rent (reducing our housing costs by 50%!) but I've strongly considered moving to Cleveland and house hack for a year, the book almost writes itself, but it's difficult moving middle school kids around for RE dreams.

I plan to take the equity and purchase more properties in northeast Ohio focusing on MTR/STR strategy, but I've had my eye on other areas great for MTR sticking with that strategy. I have a realtor and have a strong addiction to MLS listings, but I keep reading about finding great deals off-market and I've been learning more about "creative" real estate. What are some great ways to find the juicy off-market deals? Networking I know is key and I need more of that, is that really the secret?

Like many here, I love real estate investing and while I'm sad to sell my primary residence and go back to apartment living, I'm so excited to build my portfolio and long term wealth. 

Does anyone have a similar story? I'd love to hear about it!