Hearing that you get bombarded with inquiries is great to hear and gives me more confidence in my local market for filling a demand.

From what I've heard, local banks are sometimes more flexible than the big guys.A buddy of mine managed to snag a HELOC on his rental property, which isn't always straightforward, but it opened doors for him.

THANKS Your local credit union might be your best bet.

I’ve had to widen my search radius to smaller suburbs or target properties needing light cosmetic work to make the numbers work.Value-add opportunities: Adding amenities tenants love, like finished basements or upgraded kitchens, seems to justify rent premiums in this market.Navigating the competition:Be creative with financing: Seller financing or partnering with other investors has been helpful to secure deals when conventional offers didn’t cut it.Work with local agents and wholesalers: They often have their finger on the pulse of off-market opportunities, which is critical in a hot market.For those new to suburban Chicago investing, I’d say the key is finding the “sweet spot” neighborhoods—ones on the rise but not yet maxed out in price.

Accessibility and local knowledge above everything else. 

Otherwise, selling and using the proceeds to scale your portfolio locally could accelerate your long-term goals.

Starting with remote investing, like in Charlotte, can be an option, but it might be worth exploring local opportunities in Orange County too.

I feel like I need to stay local (Greater Cincinnati OH)2-4 units.  

A customer of mine happened to be a local real estate investor and he owned the land next to my business. 

I am happy to hop on a call to share more of my local expertise and if you're still looking for professional property management, I can talk to you more about that.