Help me understand Indianapolis - Fountain Square and Warren

Help me understand Indianapolis - Fountain Square and Warren

Irvine, CA · Member since 2016 · 545 posts · 614 votes

I'm looking for some B Class properties for my Buy-and-Hold portfolio in Fountain Square and Warren Park area of Indianapolis.

I was looking at this   Investors Guide to Grading Indianapolis Neighborhoods and noticed that Fountain Square is listed as a Class B neighborhood but the schools are rated 3 out of 10 (that's not Class B in my world), and the neighborhood doesn't look like a Class B neighborhood. I understand it's going through a gentrification right now, one of the properties I'm looking at has two new construction properties next door. It seems like sellers are trying to charge for this neighborhood gentrification on the front-end before it actually takes place, I don't believe in prepaying for potential/projected appreciation so this is throwing me off. Additionally all the sellers are saying the area is a trendy hangout area with bars, restaurants, and major employers nearby, etc.. Maybe it's because I'm from Southern California and grew up in Los Angeles but this just looks like a regular Class C neighborhood, What am I missing?

Warren seems a little more like a Class B neighborhood, better schools and a more suburban feel.

I'm seeing varying rents in both neighborhoods Fountain Square and Warren but Warren seems to be a little more consistent at the high range and I don't have to search for the good pockets, but there doesn't seem to be anything to draw people to the neighborhood like Fountain Square.  

Am I missing something in the proximity to Downtown Indy with these neighborhoods?

Other than the future possibility of a complete gentrification in Fountain Square, What else is there that's demanding Class B+ pricing in a Class C (some areas) and Class C- in other areas?

If you're an Indianapolis local please enlighten me.

Thank you 

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Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
7y

your missing proximity to Lilly and down town.. 

these type of pockets exist all over the country.. 

I would buy a 80k rental were the next door houses are 300k

before i would buy an 80k rental and everything is 80k with no hope of any expansion or re gentrification. 

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Ray Johnson:

    @Account Closed Thank you for the information! I'm seeing a lot of the neighborhoods with mixed rehabbed product in the middle of rundown and sometimes boarded up houses.

    I've looked at some of the "Renew Indianapolis" properties that are being offered and some that have been rehabbed and now on the market, It's not good what some people are asking for on these properties.

    I saw someone trying to sell an $80K teardowns in Fountain Square, and a $100k property with foundation and structural issues and it was noted this may be a teardown or fix the issues.

     @Jay Hinrichs Is the dirt in Fountain Square really $80-100k per lot or are the owners looking for people that don't know what they're doing and taking the plunge based on the hype? I don't build so I wouldn't be a customer for new construction but what's the long term plan on these streets that have a $180k rehabbed house on the market then the next 3 houses on the block are $300-$400k houses?    

     A builder can make a profit on a 100k lot when the house at 2200 to 2400 sq ft sells for 400k.. that's about 50k oi their jeans and usually only about 50 to 75k cash equity. so its a double your money cash on cash in less than a year which is pretty standard.

    can make it work at 300k exit though you would lose money

    But as for rentals Go which I believe is what Ray is looking at.. for me personally. the age of the housing stock there in the inner city is all about 50 to 120 years old.. some sell for 10k other like FS sell for 60 to 100k and need 10 to 30k in rehab.. for me I would rather have a 100k rental next to a 400k new build then be in an area of all older 75k homes with no new builds in sight or will ever be there. those truly have no upside other than if rent rises .. but again we are apples and oranges we are inventory providers or providers of new housing.. not landlords.  Landlords generally are not providers of new housing.  I know some that do both of course. and I had my big run 5 to 10 years ago were we had a little over 300 SFRs but that was then and now I have no interest in it.. too much work for too little income at my age.  

  • Ryan RomingerBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 340 posts · 144 votes
    7y

    @Ray Johnson

    I’m a California native myself living in Indianapolis. I think I can definitely be a help to you in Indy. I’m a licensed IN realtor and I’m very well acquainted with the Indy urban investment landscape. Let’s connect!

    Intrigue Real Estate & Property Management4.6272 Reviews
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