All Forum Posts by: Marc Rice

New to REI & BP, and debating my first move.

My Background:

• 30, single, no kids, no property, high income, fully remote worker
• $300K to allocate toward real estate (+ $100K/year after tax)
• Currently renting in NYC but planning to move back to LA (hometown) in summer 2025 or the following year
• Tired of paying rent and want to start building equity

My Dilemma:

1️⃣ House Hack in NYC – Stay a couple more years here, buy a small multi-family now and offset costs with rental income. Concern: NYC’s strict landlord laws, high purchase price would tie up capital & be in less desirable area, would likely not cash flow (not good when I leave)

2️⃣ House Hack in LA – Move back, get a small multi-unit, and offset my mortgage with rental income. Not expecting cash flow, but at least my housing cost would be similar to renting. Concern: LA’s landlord laws, headaches from self managing, a good deal may still have tenants occupying it, if I ever leave it's an alligator so it costs more than the income it makes

3️⃣ Out-of-State Rental – Get skin in the game sooner by buying a cash-flowing property elsewhere. Would get a property manager. Concern: Remote investing as a beginner, higher risk. (I have read the Long-Distance Real Estate Investor, so have some ideas)

4️⃣ House Hack Anywhere - Due to remote work, I could find a market that has a profitable house hack, get great financing. Just need to spend a year somewhere I may have no desire to live.

Hybrid Plan:

• Keep researching out-of-state markets and act if a great deal appears.
• Move back to LA, live in Airbnbs in to get a feel for neighborhoods (open to suggestions), and house hack once I find a deal.

Would love to hear from those who’ve house-hacked in LA or NYC or started with out-of-state rentals—what would you do in my shoes? 👀

Looking to connect with contractors and investors that want to do their own flips in the Columbus, OH area! 

Hi everyone,

I’m a beginner real estate investor looking for guidance as I work toward purchasing my first rental property. I’ve done a lot of research, but now I’m taking action and need advice from experienced investors.

My Background & Current Progress:

• I’m working full-time while attending college, looking to start investing early to build wealth.

• I’m currently in Atlanta, GA, but I’m open to both in-state and out-of-state investing.

• I’ve started looking at affordable markets in the Midwest and South and have recently focused on Northwestern Pennsylvania after speaking with an agent there.

• I’m also in contact with a property manager in PA to ensure I have the right team in place.

• I’ve spoken with Sophia from BiggerPockets as a starting point and have watched a lot of YouTube videos, but I need guidance on taking the next steps.

Investment Criteria:

• Budget: Looking for a turnkey or move-in-ready property between $30K–$100K in the Midwest or South (PA & GA are my current focus).

• Down Payment: Planning to put down 15%–20% to keep my monthly payment low.

• Cash Flow: My goal is to keep total expenses at $600/month or less (including mortgage, taxes, insurance, and property management).

• Minimizing Debt: I want to avoid overleveraging and maximize cash flow from the start.

• Property Management: Since I’m investing out of state, I’ll be hiring a property manager to handle day-to-day operations.

Where I Need Guidance:

1. Best Markets in the Midwest & South – Are there better affordable areas I should be considering within my price range?

2. Finding Deals – What’s the best way to find turnkey or low-maintenance properties in this price range?

3. Financing Strategies – I’d like to put 15%–20% down—what’s the best way to secure a loan with manageable terms?

4. Avoiding Beginner Mistakes – What are the biggest pitfalls for a first-time investor, and how can I avoid them?

5. Working with Property Managers – What should I look for in a good property manager to ensure smooth operations?

I’m excited to get started and really appreciate any advice or insights from those who have been through this process. Thanks in advance!

Best,

Jardin

Hi i am actively looking to buy apartment buildings in these areas. Please advise if you have a good agent to refer who specializes in multifamily.

more precisely in these areas:

• Nashville
• Knoxville
• Indianapolis
• Charlotte
• Raleigh
• Columbus
• Cincinnati

Investor targeting 5+ unit deals in Columbus—where do you network locally?

I’m looking for the smartest way to invest $25K to generate the best returns and scale my portfolio as quickly as possible. My goal is to make the most strategic move that maximizes profit while managing risk effectively.

If you had $25K to invest, what would be the best option? Would you put it toward a down payment on a long-term rental, BRRRR, house hacking, partnerships, or another strategy? What type of real estate would you target—single-family, multifamily, commercial, etc?

For those with experience, what has worked best for you? Any key factors to consider or lessons learned when trying to scale efficiently?

Appreciate any insights—looking forward to learning and connecting!

Anyone have experience with multi family section 8?

Hello everyone, 

Looking to get a little insight into what things I should take into account when selling a property. Short version... I have owned this property for 8 years, 7 as a rental property. Monthly cash flow is positive. There is an offer to buy but if I include everything I've spent over the years, mortgage P&I, taxes, insurance, HOA, and recent repairs, I will just break even. How much net profit in general should I look for on a long term buy and hold rental property like this? Thanks in advance, look forward to being a part of the BiggerPockets community. DB

Hey! I'm not new to REI and I've been talking about getting my first property for several years now. I'm finally ready. I found a property on an auction site that I'd like to bid on. I'm looking to use it as an investment, not a primary residence. I'm considering using hard money lenders or DSCR loans, but it seems like DSCR would be a bit complex. I'd also like to try to purchase with a land trust or my LLC. Any recommendations for hard money lenders? Thanks.

Hi everyone! My name is Max, and I’m from Odesa, Ukraine. I’m a professional civil engineer with years of experience in construction and entrepreneurship. Although I don’t have experience in house flipping yet, I’ve successfully run a construction business back home.

Due to the war, my family and I had to search for a new place to live. During this journey, I discovered the world of house flipping and real estate investing in the U.S. Right now, I’m actively learning and planning to start my first projects this year. I’m truly excited to have found this amazing platform and such a supportive community!

Where I’m Focusing: Ohio (Dayton and Cincinnati) — I already have trusted partners for renovation and construction.
Investment Strategies: I’m interested in fix-and-flip and BRRRR.
Open to Networking: Real estate agents, investors, contractors, and anyone passionate about real estate.
My Goal: To learn from experienced investors, share ideas, and build a scalable real estate business.

Looking forward to connecting and learning from this great community!