All Forum Posts by: Simon Ashbaugh

Identify a strategy, choose a market that aligns with it, and establish your Core 4.

The main challenge I observed is that individuals often lack a clear end goal or strategy, or they select a market that doesn't align with it.

Your real estate agent, who plays a key role in uncovering good deals is likely to have some great connections with local property managers, contractors, and lenders. They can hook you up with these contacts, making your real estate journey smoother.

Since you're looking to cash flow, I'd suggest you take a closer look at Cleveland's Section 8 market, its known for reliable government-backed payments and high tenant demand. I'd be happy to connect if you wish to know more.

4 Votes

Glad to have you aboard in this amazing community Jason. All the best!

0 Votes

Fort Worth, Texas

Cleveland stands out as a great option for real estate investments. Its affordability, ongoing revitalization initiatives, and strong rental market contribute to its appeal. When scouting for properties, explore areas on the west side as well as some parts of the east for potential opportunities.

4 Votes

Cleveland, Ohio

You've done a great job making progress on the property. It's impressive to have it almost ready to be rented, especially with the unexpected challenge of repiping the house. Addressing that now while it's empty will definitely save you headaches in the future.

1 Vote

Hey Allen, welcome to BP! Starting with duplexes would be a smart choice as it offers a good balance of affordability, manageable complexity, and the potential for solid cash flow. Figuring out the ROI isn't as easy as just looking at a price tag. You need to consider factors such as location, condition, potential rental income, necessary repairs, and your own loan terms. Additionally, the overall market situation matters, including the vacancy rate, rent trends, and property values. While it requires some effort to analyze all these aspects, thorough research will help you determine if investing in a duplex is the right first step for you.

0 Votes

Cleveland, Ohio

Hey Wencheur, welcome to BiggerPockets! This is a great platform to connect with other real estate professionals and learn from their experiences. Feel free to browse through the forums, join groups, and participate in discussions. All the best with your move to Georgia and your real estate ventures!

0 Votes

Savannah, Georgia

Quote from @Aj Escomiendo:

Quote from @Simon Ashbaugh:

Quote from @Aj Escomiendo:

How does a new out of state investor “build a team” that can be “boots on the ground”? Does this just mean people you meet along the way that you have learned to trust and work well together?

Hey Aj, you're right about what you think. Trust is essential in this business, especially for out-of-state investors like you.

Connecting with a reliable realtor, lender, and property management company will significantly increase your chances of finding partners you can truly trust. Realtors, for instance have deep knowledge of the market and will mostly have a network of trusted professionals they've built through successful collaborations.

Keeping track of these recommended professionals in a dedicated spreadsheet can make it easier for you to choose the right partner for each project. This way, when investment opportunities arise, you have a readily available pool of reliable partners you can confidently turn to. Building your Core 4 is crucial to ensuring your success. Hope this helps!

This definitely does help Simon! Thanks for the insight!

All the best!

0 Votes

Quote from @Aaron Maxwell:

Can I use a regular email address for my business LLC?

You can use a regular email address for your LLC, but it may appear less professional. Investing in a custom domain email address can enhance your business's image and security, though it does involve some expense.

1 Vote

Quote from @Theresa Hansen:

I live in a suburb outside of Atlanta, GA but we have family in Ohio (dayton & cleveland areas). Looking to do some investing in Cleveland, OH. Does anyone have any connections in the Cleveland Ohio (specifically around the Cleveland Clinic) area with regards to realtors, contractors and management companies?

Hey Theresa, I've got a list of PMs and Contractors as well as Lenders who've been a big help for my investors when acquiring properties. Would love to connect with you.

0 Votes

Cleveland, Ohio

Quote from @Donnie Tucker:

Quote from @Simon Ashbaugh:

Hey Donnie, any particular location that's caught your eye so far? There are a few sites that would be ideal for you to use. Zillow is great for overall market trends, neighborhood comparisons, and estimated home values. Redfin offers comprehensive data and reports with unique insights like demographics, commute times, and school ratings and Realtor.com is excellent for filtering by specific criteria like market, property type, and budget. Their user-friendly interface makes it easy to narrow down your search, you should give those a try first. Hope this helps!

Definitely helps, thank you. I have a big list I need to narrow down. I went to census bureau but couldn't figure out how to pull up data. Just figured it out last night

Glad it worked out for you. Feel free to connect if you need any help.

1 Vote

All Forum Posts by: Simon Ashbaugh

Simon Ashbaugh has started 0 posts and replied 839 times.

Post: Investing remotely out of state

Post: New Investor / Realtor

Post: From Toronto, looking to invest in Ohio!

Post: Finally Did It; Purchased First Rental Duplex.

Post: Duplex investing - Cleveland Ohio

Post: A pleasure to be here and connect with you

Post: Building a Team

Post: Can I just use a regular email address for my business?

Post: Connections in Cleveland Ohio

Post: New investor looking to start out of state