Best city to begin investing

Dayton, Ohio
General Real Estate Investing
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Best city to begin investing

Jenna Schulze
Member since 2025 · 5 posts · 8 votes

Hi! I am starting to become involved in real estate investing and I am looking between two cities in Ohio to purchase my first property (hopefully a duplex). Through my research, it says that Cleveland and Toledo are both good options for real estate investing. Which one is better? Is there a city that's better than both of these in Ohio? I do need a property that is not very expensive, which is why I have been looking into Clevland due to their low selling prices and high appreciation rates. 

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Arn CenedellaPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2008 · 786 posts · 1k+ votes
1y

@Jenna Schulze

As a newbie investor with limited capital, I’d invest close to home.

Invest in areas you know well.

I’ve been in the RE industry since 1978 and people always ask me:

What’s the best market to invest in?

My answer is: Invest in the market you know best.

Within Dayton, there surely are decent neighborhoods to invest in. Pick one that is improving, homes being renovated and flipped, vacant storefronts being turned into cool coffee shops etc.

Good luck.

[email protected]650-575-6114
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  • Stephen KeigheryBusiness Member
    Rental Property Investor · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2018 · 717 posts · 555 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Dave Richard:
    Quote from @Jenna Schulze:

    Hi! I am starting to become involved in real estate investing and I am looking between two cities in Ohio to purchase my first property (hopefully a duplex). Through my research, it says that Cleveland and Toledo are both good options for real estate investing. Which one is better? Is there a city that's better than both of these in Ohio? I do need a property that is not very expensive, which is why I have been looking into Clevland due to their low selling prices and high appreciation rates. 

    I don't like States that people- in general- are moving away from. I prefer new Orleans, for example. 
    New Orleans is my market too. I wouldn't recommend it to out of state investors unless they have a strong connection here. The only reason I like it is that I live here and have systems to buy deals under market value. 
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  • Ryan McBrayer
    Member since 2025 · 1 post · 1 vote
    1y
    Quote from @Arn Cenedella:

    @Jenna Schulze

    As a newbie investor with limited capital, I’d invest close to home.

    Invest in areas you know well.

    I’ve been in the RE industry since 1978 and people always ask me:

    What’s the best market to invest in?

    My answer is: Invest in the market you know best.

    Within Dayton, there surely are decent neighborhoods to invest in. Pick one that is improving, homes being renovated and flipped, vacant storefronts being turned into cool coffee shops etc.

    Good luck.

    That's a really great point. Never invest in a market where you have less knowledge than other investors. You won't be able to deliver solid returns unless you are just really, really lucky.
    1Reply
  • Benjamin FinneyPro Member
    Lender · Asheville - Charlotte · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 4 votes
    1y
    You can get the Bigger Pockets paid membership and use their Find a Market Tool to analyze. All important factors to consider- population growth or decline, job growth or decline, inventory rate and movement- is is a seller's market getting stronger or softer or a buyer's market getting stronger or softer? Also, as many have said- it's smart to start off close to home if possible. There are deals in every market if you know how to look for them and there are strategies that work in every stage of the cycle. You may just need to look harder in certain markets or stages of the cycle. And you need to really get to know your market and the intricacies of each neighborhood you're considering. Your first couple deals will be important, they will set the stage for your success. Get as educated as possible and also don't get paralyzed by information overload. Know what your criteria is and stick to it. Don't ever invest or buy on FOMO- make sure your numbers work. Get a system down to quickly filter out the deals where the numbers don't meet your criteria.
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  • Mike Arias
    Member since 2022 · 32 posts · 14 votes
    1y
    Jenna, I am also looking to invest in Ohio and have done preliminary research.  I was looking at Toledo, Cleveland and Cincinnati.  I have heard many REI that invests in Toledo but does not seem that is a growing town (population wise).  Same with Cleveland.  Cincinnati seems to be the better of the 3 but neighborhoods make a big difference. I am still trying to find the better neighborhoods. Columbus seems to be good too but I have not looked at that city yet.

    Not sure why many say to focus on markets closer to where one lives (I live in NJ and I would never invest here).  That is not always possible and many people have started their real estate journeys investing in other states so I would not really take that to heart.  You can be successful if you believe in yourself and build a local team [especially real estate agent].

    Brightinvestors offers tools that let you see if specifically areas/neighborhoods are good to invest in.  I don't have a subscription yet but definitely will get one soon.

    Good Luck!
    0Reply
  • Shawn McenteerBusiness Member
    Realtor · Boonton Township, NJ · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    Hi @Mike Arias I think it depends on the strategy.  I will let you know I've been house hacking in new jersey for over decade.  My wife and I heavily considered investing out of state.  All I can say is no way we would be where we are today had we gone the out of state route.  Owner occupied loans have allowed us to purchase properties in markets with heavy appreciation, and potential for huge rent increases. Best part is NJ is not what its made out to be in terms of landlord friendly, the state gets portrayed as the entire state being bad when really most wacky laws are in the major cities and they apply to 5 units or more.  2-4 unit multi families fly below radar per say. 

    973-975-3895
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  • Account Closed
    Realtor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2023 · 340 posts · 215 votes
    1y

    Hi, yes Ohio is definitely a good place to invest in real estate. Please reach out with any questions. Thanks!

    0Reply
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