Real Estate Investor · Vancouver, BC · Member since 2012 · 35 posts · 0 votes
After some analysis, I've decided to invest in Detroit suburbs (Warren/Sterling Heights) or possibly further out (Grand Rapids/Ann Arbor).
I will be buying and holding from out of state, but I do want to visit now and then, at least initially as I get set up.
Is there anything I should be mindful of in terms of crime/safety while travelling to these cities? I hesitate to say it, but especially as a woman travelling by herself? E.g. should I avoid flying in from the Detroit?
millions of people live in those areas and go out all the time. you make it sound like we live in a prison yard and get stabbed as soon as we leave our houses.
I can definitely see your initial concerns and coming from a more media-friendly big city myself (San Diego), i can see where the hesitation may be in exploring a city like Detroit all by your lonesome.
I've recently relocated here and the more I do research and get my bearings, the more comfortable I'm becoming in narrowing down my areas I'd want to invest in. It's nice to be immersed in the area and if anything, have boots on the ground.
I'm currently RE licensed and investing in CA but also plan on getting licensed here in MI while i'm building my connections. If the time comes where you're planning on flying into Detroit to exploring the area, feel free to hit me up and we can bounce ideas off each other. I'd love to hear about your plan of maintaining your out of state rentals once you move here to the area. Cheers.
Here in California we now test all our units Water supplies to eliminate any problem down the line with Tenants suing us for unsafe drinking water. Not saying they would win, since Muni Water districts would be ultimate defendant but landlords always get named and are forced to hire legal. Prepare if going to Detroit at least with a DIY EPA Certified Water test kit prices are very low per test. Costs of a large 200 Contaminants kit cost less then 1st check to a lawyer.