For example, if I were to invest in Columbus, Ohio, could anyone share their insights on which neighborhoods or parts of the city offer good returns?

Investment Info:

Small multi-family (2-4 units) buy & hold investment in Duck Creek Village.

Purchase price: $190,000

Cash invested: $34,000

Triplex, ranch style.

I used to live in the city and the taxes and water bills are nightmares.

I'm a former general contractor and cabinet maker based in New York City.

I feel like there's still people trying to make BRRRR deals work close to the city and the truth is it's nearly impossible given prices, rates, and the cost of construction.

78 Endicott St, Peabody – A 4-unit property with all 2BR/1BA layouts and off-street parking in a prime location near Route 128, the commuter rail, and Salem—just a 30-minute drive to Boston.Investment Breakdown:Purchase Price: $900K20% Down Payment @ 7% Interest: $180K → P&I = $4,790/monthRenovation Estimate: $200K ($50K/unit) → Total investment: $340KOperating Expenses: ~$18K/year (taxes & insurance)Stabilized Rents: $2,300/unit (market comps)Cash-on-Cash Return: 9% when stabilizedThis deal checks a lot of boxes:Max units for residential financing – You could live here & house hackCosmetic rehab potential – Flooring, cabinets, counters, appliances, paint (~$50K/unit)Strong long-term ROI – Factoring in principal paydown + 2% appreciation, a 5-year stabilized ROI of ~75%Pre-pandemic, these deals were more common closer to the city, but now we’re looking slightly further out—yet they still work as wealth-building assets.

The City/County/State rent caps only apply to leases that are being renewed. 

I hired a surveyor,  engineer and ran through the process with the city myself. 

Phoenix is a huge city, and there are still growth opportunities within it. 

Cosmo - I personally don't know Phoenix well, but if I had to do this in another city I would look at income levels, crime levels, and population growth (if you can) by zip code and/or area within a DMA as a starting point.