Other factors as well of course: DTI, the LTV, primary residence vs investment property, etc.

Columbus, OH has plenty of development happening that have been bringing in workers from all over the U.S. and with a great inventory of A+ homes in the 400k range, it's definitely worth a look. 

Over the last year, I've developed a passion for real estate and want to be able to use it to generate income and secure financial freedom in the long run.

However, 2024’s holiday season was impacted by other compounding factors, making the usual seasonal dip more pronounced.2.

You’re absolutely right—speed is such a critical factor in securing deals, especially in a competitive market.

We are seeking joint venture opportunities with experienced developers who can see the value in this project and help us navigate these challenging times.As partners based in NYC, this venture was beyond our usual real estate development experience.

Has it developed much in the last 5 years? 

HUDuser.org is great for vacancy rates, but cross-referencing with local market reports is important for more context.For job diversity and employers, LinkedIn or regional economic development websites often provide insights.

Here are a few things that I like about the neighborhoods in Indy compared to other states: high rent-to-home-value ratio, consistent and gradual city development, relatively low property tax and insurance cost, affordable renovation service cost.

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).