Hi everyone! My name is Robert Gibbs. I’m 26 yrs old and have a beautiful wife and beautiful 7 month old son. Currently I am working a 9-5 but more like 7-7 with the company I work for. Real Estate has always been something that I’ve loved growing up and I’m very passionate about it. I am going to replace my jobs income with rental cash flow and become financially free to spend as much time as I can with my family. I’m looking to start investing this year in small multi-family out-of-state. I wanted to start getting my name out there and start mingling in hopes to gain a lot more knowledge and guidance from the group! I’ve read through these forums and the community is awesome! I appreciate any feedback I may get now and in the future whether it be good or bad! All feedback can be learned from and that’s what we are all here for!
Thanks!
Robert Gibbs
Welcome! Out of state investing rocks. I've been doing it for a few years. Any markets you're looking at?
Yeah! So I've been looking through a few markets in Ohio. I like the price to rent ratio. The state seems to provide a good amount of cash flow. Currently I have been sorting through the Toledo market and I've been seeing some good results for small multi-family with a buy and hold strategy. In my opinion the market is a C+ to a B- with more than enough room to improve. I know some people over there that live close to Toledo and they say they like going in for the nightlife it provides as well as family restaurants and they like all the outdoor activities it provides.
In addition to Ohio, I also have interests in southern markets along Interstate 10 or close by the interstate. I have a close buddy who has expressed interest in investing with me and he runs a trucking route mostly along the southern states so I believe it would be an incredible insight to markets. It also helps having years worth of trust to have eyes going through new markets to give an "on the ground" opinion about the markets.
If you have any advice on anything I would love it. I want to learn more and I am eager to learn and keep learning everything I can!
Check out @Zach Lemaster and his team. They help out of state investors put together profitable rental deals. Helped me through my first few deals.
Hey Robert,
Congrats on getting started on your journey! You are definitely in the correct group to grow your portfolio.
Good Luck!
@Robert Gibbs welcome, and good luck on your investing journey.
My two cents: a house hack (which can be a single fam or small multifam property) is the best way to start off--and is a far better strategy for a beginner than an OOS property.
A good house hack will simultaneously lower your living expenses while increasing your income (the fundamental recipe for building wealth), it will teach you many of the essential skills you'll need to succeed in REI (like due diligence, tenant screening, property management, etc.), and--importantly--it's MUCH simpler and easier than other strategies like OOS investing (which tends to have a lot more risk and a much steeper learning curve).
Unfortunately, we regularly see beginner investors on the forums with nightmare scenario properties (non-paying tenants, crime, property destruction, and MIA PMs), and their story is almost always the same: it was their first property, and they bought OOS because the cashflow was great (on paper), and "it looked great in the photos", but the property was a lipsticked pig rehab in a C or D neighborhood, and they learned the hard way that PMs have no incentive to put in the significant effort required to manage in a C or D area for the minimal revenue such a property produces....that's a lesson I'm glad I haven't had to learn through experience!
Fortunately, there are simpler, easier REI strategies (like house hacking) that have lower risk profiles.
Good luck out there!
Welcome! Out of state investing rocks. I've been doing it for a few years. Any markets you're looking at?
Welcome! Out of state investing rocks. I've been doing it for a few years. Any markets you're looking at?
Yeah! So I've been looking through a few markets in Ohio. I like the price to rent ratio. The state seems to provide a good amount of cash flow. Currently I have been sorting through the Toledo market and I've been seeing some good results for small multi-family with a buy and hold strategy. In my opinion the market is a C+ to a B- with more than enough room to improve. I know some people over there that live close to Toledo and they say they like going in for the nightlife it provides as well as family restaurants and they like all the outdoor activities it provides.
In addition to Ohio, I also have interests in southern markets along Interstate 10 or close by the interstate. I have a close buddy who has expressed interest in investing with me and he runs a trucking route mostly along the southern states so I believe it would be an incredible insight to markets. It also helps having years worth of trust to have eyes going through new markets to give an "on the ground" opinion about the markets.
If you have any advice on anything I would love it. I want to learn more and I am eager to learn and keep learning everything I can!
@Robert Gibbs welcome, and good luck on your investing journey.
My two cents: a house hack (which can be a single fam or small multifam property) is the best way to start off--and is a far better strategy for a beginner than an OOS property.
A good house hack will simultaneously lower your living expenses while increasing your income (the fundamental recipe for building wealth), it will teach you many of the essential skills you'll need to succeed in REI (like due diligence, tenant screening, property management, etc.), and--importantly--it's MUCH simpler and easier than other strategies like OOS investing (which tends to have a lot more risk and a much steeper learning curve).
Unfortunately, we regularly see beginner investors on the forums with nightmare scenario properties (non-paying tenants, crime, property destruction, and MIA PMs), and their story is almost always the same: it was their first property, and they bought OOS because the cashflow was great (on paper), and "it looked great in the photos", but the property was a lipsticked pig rehab in a C or D neighborhood, and they learned the hard way that PMs have no incentive to put in the significant effort required to manage in a C or D area for the minimal revenue such a property produces....that's a lesson I'm glad I haven't had to learn through experience!
Fortunately, there are simpler, easier REI strategies (like house hacking) that have lower risk profiles.
Good luck out there!
Thanks for the feedback Leo! I am not closed off to the opportunity to house hack. I would actually love to find a deal. The only issue I run into is that I live in Southern California and home prices keep going up and up. My ideal house hack would be a small multifamily and I am currently looking for one so any inquiries would be much appreciated! lol
I completely understand all the risk in OOS and understand a lot of investors either fail or don't do well with it. My personality is a go-getter when it comes to work. I'm either going to do it 100% or I'm not going to waste my time. I strive to be the best in everything I do. So OOS investing is a challenge that I want to take head on because I don't know anything other way. I would love any advice you have or any tips you may have when it comes to OOS. Anything helps!
@Robert Gibbs welcome, and good luck on your investing journey.
My two cents: a house hack (which can be a single fam or small multifam property) is the best way to start off--and is a far better strategy for a beginner than an OOS property.
A good house hack will simultaneously lower your living expenses while increasing your income (the fundamental recipe for building wealth), it will teach you many of the essential skills you'll need to succeed in REI (like due diligence, tenant screening, property management, etc.), and--importantly--it's MUCH simpler and easier than other strategies like OOS investing (which tends to have a lot more risk and a much steeper learning curve).
Unfortunately, we regularly see beginner investors on the forums with nightmare scenario properties (non-paying tenants, crime, property destruction, and MIA PMs), and their story is almost always the same: it was their first property, and they bought OOS because the cashflow was great (on paper), and "it looked great in the photos", but the property was a lipsticked pig rehab in a C or D neighborhood, and they learned the hard way that PMs have no incentive to put in the significant effort required to manage in a C or D area for the minimal revenue such a property produces....that's a lesson I'm glad I haven't had to learn through experience!
Fortunately, there are simpler, easier REI strategies (like house hacking) that have lower risk profiles.
Good luck out there!
Thanks for the feedback Leo! I am not closed off to the opportunity to house hack. I would actually love to find a deal. The only issue I run into is that I live in Southern California and home prices keep going up and up. My ideal house hack would be a small multifamily and I am currently looking for one so any inquiries would be much appreciated! lol
I completely understand all the risk in OOS and understand a lot of investors either fail or don't do well with it. My personality is a go-getter when it comes to work. I'm either going to do it 100% or I'm not going to waste my time. I strive to be the best in everything I do. So OOS investing is a challenge that I want to take head on because I don't know anything other way. I would love any advice you have or any tips you may have when it comes to OOS. Anything helps!
I would suggest studying up on all the OOS resources you can find (books, podcasts, forum posts), and asking OOS investors for their biggest lessons learned (a lot of these are already discussed frequently on the forums). One of the most important things with OOS is creating and incentivizing a team of boots on the ground--this is notoriously difficult to accomplish, but it's absolutely necessary for success.
When comparing OOS properties to in-state house hacks, always remember to factor in the reduced (or eliminated) housing expense the house hack brings. For instance, if the house hack grosses $2k/month in rent AND saves you $1k/month in housing expenses, your gross is $3k.
Good luck!
Welcome! Out of state investing rocks. I've been doing it for a few years. Any markets you're looking at?
Yeah! So I've been looking through a few markets in Ohio. I like the price to rent ratio. The state seems to provide a good amount of cash flow. Currently I have been sorting through the Toledo market and I've been seeing some good results for small multi-family with a buy and hold strategy. In my opinion the market is a C+ to a B- with more than enough room to improve. I know some people over there that live close to Toledo and they say they like going in for the nightlife it provides as well as family restaurants and they like all the outdoor activities it provides.
In addition to Ohio, I also have interests in southern markets along Interstate 10 or close by the interstate. I have a close buddy who has expressed interest in investing with me and he runs a trucking route mostly along the southern states so I believe it would be an incredible insight to markets. It also helps having years worth of trust to have eyes going through new markets to give an "on the ground" opinion about the markets.
If you have any advice on anything I would love it. I want to learn more and I am eager to learn and keep learning everything I can!
Check out @Zach Lemaster and his team. They help out of state investors put together profitable rental deals. Helped me through my first few deals.
@Robert Gibbs - sound like you are a go-getter! Having a supportive team to help you find a good property is key. Take a look under the Network tab and start connecting with agents, lenders, and successful investors in markets you are interested in. Having a boots-on-the-ground team that will honestly advise you can make a big difference.
Hello Robert, I am so glad that you are looking to get out of what sounds like a draining job through real estate. I will say that learning to invest for the first time, out of state, while working 7-7, with a baby sounds like a really difficult task. Have you considered the option of partnering with someone or investing in a syndication to leverage all of the benefits of real estate without having to take on all of the work yourself? This might be a more sustainable option for you until you can quit your full time job. If you want to discuss the different ways that can work feel free to send me a private message. I am looking for a partner on a deal right now where the partner should get 20-30% ROI and I have a friend that is capital raising for a multifamily syndication who I would be glad to refer you to if that makes more sense for your goals. I hope you can find the best path for your family, I am getting married in may and am trying to forge a better path for my future family as well!
Welcome to the real estate investing community, Robert! It's great to hear that you are passionate about real estate and are looking to invest in small multifamily properties. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
I hope these tips are helpful as you embark on your real estate investing journey. Good luck!
Check out Taco Bell, it will really help you with your hunger, you can thank me later, but whatever happens the morning after is not my problem.
Welcome! Out of state investing rocks. I've been doing it for a few years. Any markets you're looking at?
Yeah! So I've been looking through a few markets in Ohio. I like the price to rent ratio. The state seems to provide a good amount of cash flow. Currently I have been sorting through the Toledo market and I've been seeing some good results for small multi-family with a buy and hold strategy. In my opinion the market is a C+ to a B- with more than enough room to improve. I know some people over there that live close to Toledo and they say they like going in for the nightlife it provides as well as family restaurants and they like all the outdoor activities it provides.
In addition to Ohio, I also have interests in southern markets along Interstate 10 or close by the interstate. I have a close buddy who has expressed interest in investing with me and he runs a trucking route mostly along the southern states so I believe it would be an incredible insight to markets. It also helps having years worth of trust to have eyes going through new markets to give an "on the ground" opinion about the markets.
If you have any advice on anything I would love it. I want to learn more and I am eager to learn and keep learning everything I can!
Welcome Robert! I'm an agent here in central and south east Ohio. If you're searching for cash flow, you may want to look a further south than Toledo. Don't forget the new $20 billion Intel chips factory going under construction. 10 years of well paid transient workers. Send me a message if you have any questions.
If you're hungry go eat, enough out there to fill up.
if you're going to invest OOS, at least go to the market(s) in person and build your core 4.
also note how much more house you can get with a low down payment owner occupant loan, vs. a 20-25% down payment on a "much cheaper" OOS turnkey.
@Robert Gibbs welcome, and good luck on your investing journey.
My two cents: a house hack (which can be a single fam or small multifam property) is the best way to start off--and is a far better strategy for a beginner than an OOS property.
A good house hack will simultaneously lower your living expenses while increasing your income (the fundamental recipe for building wealth), it will teach you many of the essential skills you'll need to succeed in REI (like due diligence, tenant screening, property management, etc.), and--importantly--it's MUCH simpler and easier than other strategies like OOS investing (which tends to have a lot more risk and a much steeper learning curve).
Unfortunately, we regularly see beginner investors on the forums with nightmare scenario properties (non-paying tenants, crime, property destruction, and MIA PMs), and their story is almost always the same: it was their first property, and they bought OOS because the cashflow was great (on paper), and "it looked great in the photos", but the property was a lipsticked pig rehab in a C or D neighborhood, and they learned the hard way that PMs have no incentive to put in the significant effort required to manage in a C or D area for the minimal revenue such a property produces....that's a lesson I'm glad I haven't had to learn through experience!
Fortunately, there are simpler, easier REI strategies (like house hacking) that have lower risk profiles.
Good luck out there!
Thanks for the feedback Leo! I am not closed off to the opportunity to house hack. I would actually love to find a deal. The only issue I run into is that I live in Southern California and home prices keep going up and up. My ideal house hack would be a small multifamily and I am currently looking for one so any inquiries would be much appreciated! lol
I completely understand all the risk in OOS and understand a lot of investors either fail or don't do well with it. My personality is a go-getter when it comes to work. I'm either going to do it 100% or I'm not going to waste my time. I strive to be the best in everything I do. So OOS investing is a challenge that I want to take head on because I don't know anything other way. I would love any advice you have or any tips you may have when it comes to OOS. Anything helps!
I would suggest studying up on all the OOS resources you can find (books, podcasts, forum posts), and asking OOS investors for their biggest lessons learned (a lot of these are already discussed frequently on the forums). One of the most important things with OOS is creating and incentivizing a team of boots on the ground--this is notoriously difficult to accomplish, but it's absolutely necessary for success.
When comparing OOS properties to in-state house hacks, always remember to factor in the reduced (or eliminated) housing expense the house hack brings. For instance, if the house hack grosses $2k/month in rent AND saves you $1k/month in housing expenses, your gross is $3k.
Good luck!
Always good to keep the options open for in state to reduce the expenses on a house hack then go right into an out of state to increase the income for cashflow. Unless you are sitting on a pile of cash, your income will not get replaced overnight. Some people build this up over a few years, some six to seven years and some hit one property at a time for ten years. Whatever the goal is just know that either you are going to go it alone and it will take longer to replace an income of SoCal status along with getting the amount of money to live on; and it is something that will take some time gaining the knowledge.
Another option to get there quicker is partnering as someone mentioned on this thread. That is an option too, you just need to build that plan and go after it. Also, I agree, the plan for how you will do it and building those relationships either here in SoCal to partner or on the ground in those markets you pick. You need to be methodical about it as you are on BP asking questions I can see you are being methodical about it! Good luck!
Hello Robert, I am so glad that you are looking to get out of what sounds like a draining job through real estate. I will say that learning to invest for the first time, out of state, while working 7-7, with a baby sounds like a really difficult task. Have you considered the option of partnering with someone or investing in a syndication to leverage all of the benefits of real estate without having to take on all of the work yourself? This might be a more sustainable option for you until you can quit your full time job. If you want to discuss the different ways that can work feel free to send me a private message. I am looking for a partner on a deal right now where the partner should get 20-30% ROI and I have a friend that is capital raising for a multifamily syndication who I would be glad to refer you to if that makes more sense for your goals. I hope you can find the best path for your family, I am getting married in may and am trying to forge a better path for my future family as well!
Welcome to the real estate investing community, Robert! It's great to hear that you are passionate about real estate and are looking to invest in small multifamily properties. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
I hope these tips are helpful as you embark on your real estate investing journey. Good luck!
Thank you! These tips are going to help a lot. Right on line with the path I’m taking!
@Robert Gibbs welcome, and good luck on your investing journey.
My two cents: a house hack (which can be a single fam or small multifam property) is the best way to start off--and is a far better strategy for a beginner than an OOS property.
A good house hack will simultaneously lower your living expenses while increasing your income (the fundamental recipe for building wealth), it will teach you many of the essential skills you'll need to succeed in REI (like due diligence, tenant screening, property management, etc.), and--importantly--it's MUCH simpler and easier than other strategies like OOS investing (which tends to have a lot more risk and a much steeper learning curve).
Unfortunately, we regularly see beginner investors on the forums with nightmare scenario properties (non-paying tenants, crime, property destruction, and MIA PMs), and their story is almost always the same: it was their first property, and they bought OOS because the cashflow was great (on paper), and "it looked great in the photos", but the property was a lipsticked pig rehab in a C or D neighborhood, and they learned the hard way that PMs have no incentive to put in the significant effort required to manage in a C or D area for the minimal revenue such a property produces....that's a lesson I'm glad I haven't had to learn through experience!
Fortunately, there are simpler, easier REI strategies (like house hacking) that have lower risk profiles.
Good luck out there!
Thanks for the feedback Leo! I am not closed off to the opportunity to house hack. I would actually love to find a deal. The only issue I run into is that I live in Southern California and home prices keep going up and up. My ideal house hack would be a small multifamily and I am currently looking for one so any inquiries would be much appreciated! lol
I completely understand all the risk in OOS and understand a lot of investors either fail or don't do well with it. My personality is a go-getter when it comes to work. I'm either going to do it 100% or I'm not going to waste my time. I strive to be the best in everything I do. So OOS investing is a challenge that I want to take head on because I don't know anything other way. I would love any advice you have or any tips you may have when it comes to OOS. Anything helps!
I would suggest studying up on all the OOS resources you can find (books, podcasts, forum posts), and asking OOS investors for their biggest lessons learned (a lot of these are already discussed frequently on the forums). One of the most important things with OOS is creating and incentivizing a team of boots on the ground--this is notoriously difficult to accomplish, but it's absolutely necessary for success.
When comparing OOS properties to in-state house hacks, always remember to factor in the reduced (or eliminated) housing expense the house hack brings. For instance, if the house hack grosses $2k/month in rent AND saves you $1k/month in housing expenses, your gross is $3k.
Good luck!
Always good to keep the options open for in state to reduce the expenses on a house hack then go right into an out of state to increase the income for cashflow. Unless you are sitting on a pile of cash, your income will not get replaced overnight. Some people build this up over a few years, some six to seven years and some hit one property at a time for ten years. Whatever the goal is just know that either you are going to go it alone and it will take longer to replace an income of SoCal status along with getting the amount of money to live on; and it is something that will take some time gaining the knowledge.
Another option to get there quicker is partnering as someone mentioned on this thread. That is an option too, you just need to build that plan and go after it. Also, I agree, the plan for how you will do it and building those relationships either here in SoCal to partner or on the ground in those markets you pick. You need to be methodical about it as you are on BP asking questions I can see you are being methodical about it! Good luck!
SoCal income is super hard to replace and that will take time I know that. Everyone always has to keep their options open because you never know what’s ahead. I‘ve been really thinking about house hacking and building more up to it because I want to lower my monthly expenses. Putting all of that into an OOS is a super good tip that I’m going to for sure use! You have to be methodical just like you said and that’s why I’m asking questions from people who have done it.
I like Columbus, OH and I am biased lol! There are several potential reasons why someone might consider investing in real estate in the Columbus, Ohio market. Some potential benefits of investing in real estate in Columbus include:
Let me know how I can help!
You have taken the first step in investing, and that is great! With the right strategies, you are sure to see your portfolio grow. All the best on this journey - may it be successful and rewarding for you! Enjoy learning more about investing, and don't forget to celebrate all your successes along the way. Good luck!
Hey Robert!
Nice to hear from you. Like you, I'm in the same boat - work 9-5, young kids, hungry for opportunities in RE, and looking to build financial freedom so I can escape the corporate world. I've started with Single family long-term rentals and have been doing well with it so far.
My question for you is "Why small multi-family out-of-state" ? That seems like a difficult place to start...
@Robert Gibbs- welcome...I would recommend getting a loan pre approval started so that you can learn/ understand where you stand with reagrds to qualifying for financing and also to learn the process and the numbers for a multi family purchase
@Robert Gibbs. Between my partner & myself we have over 1,000 transactions under our belts and we do NOT invest out of state. Start investing locally. Real estate is the ultimate information business, the closer you are to the asset the better your information. Real estate is extremely rewarding, but the rewards it offers are directly related to the errors market actors make (all investing is zero sum, if you are winning someone is on the other side).
Welcome! Definitely open to connecting about OOS investing
Hi Robert, welcome to BP! Have you thought about where you want to invest? Are you looking for as much cash flow possible or maybe taking in a little slower and buying in a more "appreciative market" and waiting for appreciation then increasing rents lower?