Quote from @Andy Sabisch:
Wanda, How did you select Pittsburgh? DO you have family / friends / other investors you can use for boots on the ground there to look at a deal before you buy? We have seen some killer properties online and when we looked at them, yikes, not sure how they took the photos they did.
Have you engaged with wholesalers in the area you are looking at? While their repair costs and ARV numbers might be overly optimistic, they are often local and can get you the information you need to make a better decision. Look at using the calculators offered here and use your numbers to see what the deal looks like. They cost you nothing and will do the bird dogging for you . . . then you can choose which property is for you.
We are in Mississippi but have bought the last few properties in PA but we have friends and family in the are that can do the legwork for us as well as agents we can trust for ARV values. I would be happy to discuss some areas that are a lot closer to you that might fit the bill in terms of what you are looking for . . . feel free to message us.
Finally, don't forget the family you have here on BP . . . we can look at a deal and give you feedback from our experience on repair estimates, time line, etc. We have found that there are a lot of really savvy investors here and have always gotten great advice when asking questions.
I'm in Pittsburgh and actively investing. I would suggest working with an agent in the area who is an investor/investor friendly and really willing to go after deals for you with motivation, honesty, and dedication.
