Do you rely on inspections, local contractors, the agent, or property managers to get eyes on it?

I'd rather invest with the local 26 year old who lives in their second house-hack, drives their 10 year old car, and is raising their first small apartment syndication that they will self-manage, putting their own money into the deal, than some 45-year old guru who's secret sauce turned out to be their ability to charm on TikTok, but really, their approach to deals ended up being the "secret" to transforming $300M in real estate into $215M between 2021 and 2025.  

That needs to come from a local attorney. 

One of the key challenges I’m facing is understanding the financing options available to someone without Canadian residency or a local credit history.From my research, it seems that a 35% down payment is often required, with interest rates around 7.5-8.5% for non-residents.

Just be sure to check local regulations for Airbnbs.For long-term rentals, growing cities with strong job markets and affordable housing are ideal.

Buy a used book and find someone local who's doing the thing, and make them your mentor.

I’ve had to widen my search radius to smaller suburbs or target properties needing light cosmetic work to make the numbers work.Value-add opportunities: Adding amenities tenants love, like finished basements or upgraded kitchens, seems to justify rent premiums in this market.Navigating the competition:Be creative with financing: Seller financing or partnering with other investors has been helpful to secure deals when conventional offers didn’t cut it.Work with local agents and wholesalers: They often have their finger on the pulse of off-market opportunities, which is critical in a hot market.For those new to suburban Chicago investing, I’d say the key is finding the “sweet spot” neighborhoods—ones on the rise but not yet maxed out in price.

He is a wealth of knowledge on the area and is actively investing locally as well.

You can also check out local Facebook pages in the markets you are looking in.

It’s not necessary to stay local for these services as long as you have online bank statements or a solid way to get them to the bookkeeper.