And no matter what, keep an eye on how your financing structure lines up with your exit strategy.Where do you see the biggest risk.. sinking money into improvements or letting the buy back linger too long?

@Mattin Hosh first, most cities in Metro Detroit have some type of rental property inspection every 2-3 years.It's not really a big deal 99% of the time - especially for owners who are NOT slumlords:)Also, a quick Google search will show that several states/cities are passing/considering similar legislation.One of the biggest mistakes we see newer investors making is NOT properly understanding Neighborhood/Property/Tenant Classes and naively assuming that any rental they buy will deliver Class A results.Read our copy & paste thoughts below and DM us if you'd like to dicuss more about the Detroit market:)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Biggest thing is cash position.  

But by the the biggest issue is PRICE.

My biggest issue is just choosing a place I want to live with a solid market for real estate.

or “What has been the biggest challenge for you as a new investor?”)

It’s mentally tasking, which is my biggest battle now.

Also, consider builder incentives like rate buy-downs or upgrades if they’re not open to price negotiations.

In San Antonio, I worked alongside an investor who converted an abandoned office building into modern apartments, leveraging tax incentives for adaptive reuse.The Right Moment to ActEconomic shifts in 2025 present a golden opportunity for innovative investors.

My biggest rule it to pay off the heloc as soon as possible because the rate is variable and its much safer to be in a locked in mortgage.