All Forum Posts by: Zeke Liston

Hi! I am starting to become involved in real estate investing and I am looking between two cities in Ohio to purchase my first property (hopefully a duplex). Through my research, it says that Cleveland and Toledo are both good options for real estate investing. Which one is better? Is there a city that's better than both of these in Ohio? I do need a property that is not very expensive, which is why I have been looking into Clevland due to their low selling prices and high appreciation rates. 

Hello BP community,

Most of the builders do not offer investors opportunity to buy the lots and they claim they are only for primary residence (i;e they will sell only if you are going to live in it (example Ryan homes, Pulte homes etc..) are there any builders out there who can sell to investors for "buy to rent" in Columbus OH? was looking to add brand new SFH to my portfolio. But seems tricky as none of the builders are willing to sell to investors in and around Columbus region ?

any ideas if there are any builders who would sell it to investors like me who wish to add new construction SFH's to their portfolios ?

Thx

Sachin

Hello BiggerPockets Community!

I am about to buy my first property in Ohio and I would like to gain as much information as I can in regards to the different legal issues of which I can face in Ohio. In regards to tenants, to putting the house on Section 8, to the selling of the property. I would love to hear different perspectives.

@Zeke Liston

Do you think investing in property values from 120-180k in upper class c neighbourhoods is a achievable for my first OOS? 

Good evening and happy new year,

I need input on something that seems too good to be true. 

I just got off the phone today with an investor-friendly real estate agent in another state (not NYS) who has a whole team behind her and has made it seem as if real estate investing is a much simpler process. I am a beginner investor and I have discussed my investing goals with this agent. I wanted your typical 3 bedroom house (not necessarily 2 bath) which cash flows. She goes on to say that for her beginner investors, she doesn't let them buy over $100k total (including purchase and rehab), she already has a tenant pending for a particular property she currently wants to sell, already has a good relationships with a lender, and doesn't let rehab go over 2.5 weeks. 

In terms of property management, she mentioned that she has her own property management company. She is planning on renting out to section 8 and has pacified my worries about section 8 tenants. She just seems to be well versed with dealing with section 8 tenants, which is huge in this area of the United States.

She has already sent me the address of the potential investment property. It is not on your typical zillow/redfin/trulia site as she said it is directly from the seller. 

I met this real estate agent on facebook, seems very active within the real estate community in that particular area based on the posts she's engaged with. 

The only red flag that stood out is that she strongly discourages flying out to the location and scoping out the property as she said it could get expensive and we could instead use that for a downpayment. 

I really would like to invest and just buy my first property already. I just keep hearing over and over again to just take action and course correct from there. 

I would like to ask the advice of the community - can I get some viewpoints on how I could double check this lady's work? Maybe I'm already answering my own questions - would it be rude to ask for references from other investors she's worked with? how can I do this without sounding like I don't trust her? Is it imperative that I actually go see the property before I close on it? What else am I missing?

How do you deal with doubt? I also don't want to show any type of distrust towards her as I feel that she is a valuable asset (if she is what she says she is). 

I'm really glad that I am taking my first steps, that I spoke with a real estate agent, and that I have the BiggerPockets community to lean on for support.

Thank you,

Richard

Going to be moving to Chicago next year; looking to purchase a rental property down the line in 1-2 years and just really confused where to go. I know I can't have it all but looking for a stable appreciating with some cash flow and a turnkey SFH. I don't know where to invest, really drawn to Columbus for many reasons (some cash flow and stable appreciation)--what's been some people's positive and negative experiences in Columbus? how did you deal with them? What do you recommend for me? I don't have any income yet as I am just graduating. I know a lot of Chicago investors are here too; but if you were in my spot would you recommend Chicago as prices are too high and I have never been to the city moving next year. Thanks to everyone in advance for their replies.

Hello all, first time posting and wanted to ask for your advice.

currently in the military awaiting a 9-12 deployment within the next 6 months.

I will have ~150k savings after deployment, 85k before, with no debt, payments or anything other than basic bills, 750+ credit. Currently single, no kids or anything. I am pretty handy and have done plenty of restoration work myself and not afraid to put in some elbow grease. 

looking into real estate to get the wealth ball rolling but feel a little uneasy given the current state of the economy. 

what would you do in my shoes?! 

Thanks in advance!

 I live in California, this is a bay area property.

were not looking to move out of state and house hacking is less palatable when a duplex costs 1.6 million. We have found some fixers farther away for as "little" as 600ks. But the rents don't justify it, for example we are renting a 3 bed 2 bath house with a huge backyard in rancho Cordova for 2350/mo, so duplex rents around here are 1800-2200 ballpark. So you can understand why I was blown away to see prices half that or less with rents 1500-1800 in Duluth. Have done some preliminary research and will do a deep dive, just wanted to see what folks thought of there were any obvious reasons why or why not or any markets similar that I should be considering. I have friends who bought in Texas, Chicago, Minnesota and Tennessee so I've been watching those markets. 

I'm in a bit of a situation

My wife and her parents are selling a duplex they own together.

My wife is trusting me to re invest into cash positive investments.

We could stand to take as much as a quarter million, and tax free since we lived in the property 2 of the last 5 years.

What are some suggestions for markets that would provide cashflow? I'm looking at Duluth MN because of a video posted on BP, but I recognize this is an opportunity most would dream of, because it's one I've often dreamed of

Well now it's in my lap, and the pressure is on.

Hit me with your scenarios, what would you buy? Where?

Thanks for reading

David

Hi, still new to the forums, please pardon any oddities in my post. I've tried to include relative information, without writing a novel. 

I'm a newer investor looking to get some cashflow. My strategy for the foreseeable future is 'buy and hold' with long-term tenants. I'm fine with doing some minor fixes and improvements to a property: Adding overhead lighting/fans, better flooring, maybe redoing a main bathroom. My current portfolio includes two 3-Bed/2-Bath Single Family's in my home state. I did minor improvements to both of those, but unfortunately had to replace the roof on each (Flat roofs suck, lesson learned). I have $60k-$100k that I'm willing to deploy, and do some learning with. I also have ~$20k that I've resigned for the scripted "mishap" that always comes up after purchase...lol

I've read a number of other threads and I've seen a fair amount of talk about Ohio. While that is pretty far from me, the prices there are far more manageable than my current state and would let me deploy my capital a bit better. I'd love to hear some more savvy investor's thoughts on Ohio, or a similar market. Normally, my preference would be a Duplex for ease of learning, but after looking at the price point in a place like Cleveland, I theoretically could purchase two Single Family's there. Thanks in advance for your time.