Our goal is to invest and fix up a diverse portfolio of properties, in Vermont and eventually out of state, to eventually bring in enough of a passive income through our investments to quit the day job. 

Remember commercial real estate is so diverse that it is important to make relationships with lenders and brokers that deal in your 'space.'      

As we approach the beginning of the third quarter of 2020 it is apparent that we are in an unprecedented time in the market with historically low interest rates and uncertainty in the market surrounding COVID-19. As a...

There are definitely people doing well here in Chicago though, and I don't think you are going to find many markets that provide the diversity of opportunity that exits here.

Chicago is so vast and diverse that 400k can get you a tiny condo in one neighborhood and a 12 unit in another. 

I also come from a project management background, so was well aware of the amazing feats that can be accomplished with a competent team.When it was time to invest, I scanned all markets I had any sort of access to, evaluated which other ones I could enter with reasonable safety by utilizing unfamiliar teams on the ground, then crossed that over with potential returns.I'm a pure cashflow investor, never like to speculate, so reliable monthly cashflow was criteria no. 1, followed closely by no. 2 - ease of management and low maintenance, then finally no. 3 - Affordability (which equals hedge and diversity), and last but not least, no. 4 - would I like to visit once or twice a year, at worst case, if things require my hands-on attendance.A combination of the four pointed at Japan, which is where I'm primarily invested (with smaller portions of our family portfolio in the US, Europe and Australia), although I'm only living there half the year at this point, thanks to good team utilization which means I don't need to go there unless I want to - this may change now that the yen's down and our son's nearing primary school age - which is the whole point of renting where you live and investing where the money and the environment works for you - to retain the flexibility and lifestyle benefits of being able to work and live anywhere we want at any given time.This is, of course, a long process of rationalization and calculation summarized in a nutshell - if I haven't bored you to death yet, and you want to hear more about the hows and whys of investing overseas, feel free to contact me. :)Best of luck in your chosen path, you seem to be considering all the right factors before embarking on it - I'm sure you'll enjoy the ride.

The US is a diverse investment landscape & I would just like to know what criteria allowed you to narrow in on Cleveland? 

This means that there is a steady demand for rental properties, making it an ideal place to invest in buy-and-hold real estate.Stable and Diverse Economy: Columbus is home to a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, education, finance, and technology.

Looking forward for discussions and learning from your experiencesJohnny AlvarezIn my opinion, Chicago's too diverse to answer the question- "What's  the best neighborhoods to house hack?"

Real estate is such a fun and diverse industry.