Welcome Micaela, sounds like you are doing pretty well with taking all the right steps. if you’re looking to take a more passive role in your real estate and want the benefits of diversification there are funds available to accredited investors that are designed to allow investors the opportunity for ownership of institutional investment grade property that is occupied by regional, national, and Fortune 500 credited companies.

All the areas are different and will be good or bad for you depending on your goals, budget, risk tolerance, expectations etc...So with that said you should check out The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods where I have graded these neighborhoods on an A-F scale based on price and risk level.

Hi Adrienne,You cold pull up the carpet and have a look at the subfloor--maybe it's OSB from some old packing crate in that spot.If the joists feel solid underfoot and the area to each side feels bouncy, the floor wood may have failed.If that is the case a contractor may be able to cut 1/2 way along the joists on each side and insert new "Flooring grade PLYWOOD" of the same thickness as the rest of the floor.The carpet will probably need to be "Knee-ed" back into place by a carpet installer to prevent wrinkles.Be ready for anything when you open it up (meaning idiotic workmanship such as joists with way over-large notching for plumbing, etc...)This may also be a harbinger of things to come (or it may just be an isolated indecent.)Good Luck!

Secret dogs--the barking all day when the master is not home is more a problem than just having the dog.In my experience they are Secret because the people really can't afford the deposits, and the renters who make deposits won't turn in the secret pet owners because of the "Just can't afford it" thing.Those who can afford it--pay, those who can't have "Secret Pets".I believe cracking down on secret pets may cause move outs because people love their pets--Secret or not.And turns are expensive and best avoided if possible.Tell your pet owners (and the property owners) they can use (Food Grade) Diatomaceous Earth to kill fleas and flea eggs inside, outside and petted on the cat or dog.

How does that compare to your grades on the other properties?

Berea is a very stable B-grade suburb.

There plenty of other opportunities elsewhere, my clients are involved in institutional grade properties across the country.

Any Idea on what dates they are currently grading?

In order to cashflow you may have to do some rehab in order to charge market rents on cheaper properties.I invest in Columbus and C neighborhoods are the lowest grade we have here.

I know that they have their own scale of grading and setting market rents.