I'm an experienced project manager with hundreds of cradle-to-grave efforts under my belt, including building project scopes and budgets, evaluating contract proposals, and managing construction to maintain the delivery of high quality products on-time and in budget.Penny is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), serving the community mental health needs of parents, children and families.We both recognize we have an immense opportunity to serve our community and want to capitalize on the blessings we have been provided so that we can continue serving our neighbors.My wife, Penny, and I are looking to transition into commercial multi-family real estate in 2025.

Lots of folks come up from Ventura County, including many who responded to your post. 

The first apartments I rented as the owner, were previously rented by the former owner at $150 month including utilities. 

i work full time too, so i can only do one big project at a time, and can only make about 1 offer every 1-2 months.my stock answer to anyone is to invest where they live - and for expensive metros that includes 1-2 hours out. 

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

The cash flow is only 5k/month (not including cap ex, maintenance and vacancies), but it’s enough to pay for my kids in college.

STR insurance provides broader coverage, including liability, property damage (even non-guest-related), and gaps Aircover might not cover.For damages caused by guests, document everything (photos, receipts, estimates) and file a claim through Airbnb.

We have an insurance policy on the rental house (through State Farm), that includes a personal liability section, which is essentially equal to our current net worth.Given that a tenant could sue for more than this if an accident occurred, we are thinking about adding either LLC or an umbrella policy (or both) as extra protection.Any advice on which way to go, and if LLC, any recommendations for a law firm or company the Indianapolis area?

However, my take on this is they did not do sufficient due diligence on many fronts, including city government challenges, operating challenges, infrastructure challenges and marketing challenges. 

Pairing that with relationship-building will help you uncover off-market opportunities and find local experts who can guide you.For meetups, here are a few ideas:Indianapolis Real Estate Investors Association (Indy REIA): They have a mix of virtual and in-person events and are a good starting point for networking with other investors in the Indy market.Louisville Real Estate Investors Group (REIG): A similar organization for the Louisville market, with educational and networking opportunities.Check out BiggerPockets Meetups: Many cities have local meetups organized by investors active on BiggerPockets, and they often include virtual options.Facebook Groups: Look for local investing groups like "Indianapolis Real Estate Investors" or "Louisville REI."