What strategies have worked best for marketing midterm rentals in secondary or smaller markets like Portsmouth?

Unless you are sourcing properties yourself off-market, REI became much more challenging in 2023, and downright brutal since the start of 2024 here.   

Unless you have $5 - 10k MONTHLY to spend on marketing this is what you need to do to have any chance for success with wholesaling.  

While @Phillip Austin mentioned Raleigh is a higher returns its just very much a appreciation market, you will not find rentals that cashflow, so depending on your goals its a good or bad market.

Are they at market rent, or locked into below-market rates?

Hi Kedric, welcome and I'm in the Atlanta Market.

From my experience, cities like Greenville, Columbia, Augusta, Huntsville, Chattanooga, and Jacksonville offer strong house-hacking opportunities with growing job markets, solid rental demand, and affordable multi-family options.

So it could take a decade to get to todays market rent. 2) it’s almost impossible if not impossible to non-renew a tenant, especially if you’re not an owner occupant. 3) As a seller, even if I could remove paying tenants I never would without a non-refundable payment from a potential buyer that covers all vacancies for 6 months if they fail to complete the purchase. 4) You MIGHT say as a buyer that’s worth it.

@Cosmo DePinto, I can provide further insight on behalf of my market.

@Todd Anderson totally agree on finding a mentor in the market to learn from.