Beyond that there are many infrastructure initiatives slated for Pittsburgh in the coming years such as plans to develop the former Civic Arena site with housing, offices, hotels etc., work has already started on the hotel that will be part of a larger development called the Esplanade near the Rivers Casino.

I don't think 19120 is poised for double digit growth in the next couple years but I think the infrastructure is there for it - if the rental market is strong, i think jumping in and getting my feet wet here would be good.

The owner also owns two other houses in surrounding neighborhoods.

My girlfriend and I have owned the house for 2+ years, did rehab, and have seen our surrounding market appreciate quite nicely.We applied with a bank that only did a 75% LTV for a HELOC.

My name is Andrew Becker, and I'm starting my real estate investing career here in the Milwaukee area, (or surrounding areas).

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is to surround yourself with like minded people.... so here is my attempt.

For example in greater Seattle near the Microsoft campus, its surrounded by bi levels and people pay well over $700k for them.  

If someone lists their property for sale on the open market, then we pursue the property (Within reason) so that other people can’t block our assemblage.We are using different entities to hold  title to the properties.If we purchase enough of the surrounding property, we would like to approach the city and rezone the land from office to mixed-use (Residential over retail).Any thoughts or strategies you have employed to make an assemblage successful?

The rental market is different in our surrounding areas as we definitely have some "lower income" C/D neighborhoods that may be quite more on hands managing opposed to other more turn-key investments, but again it depends on what your goals are.

We offer properties in cities surrounding Gary, but we will not offer investors properties in Gary.