Suggestion to scale

Member since 2024 · 39 posts · 24 votes

Good morning, all.

I am 7 homes deep. The way I see it I'm in for the long hall. It is getting time to start looking to scaling the business. i was thinking about Apartment buildings but I'm not really sure if Section 8 (my tenants) in Ashtabula County would really work. I guess what I'm looking for are some fresh eyes and some creativity that is unbiased from the small company I am developing. I am hoping that this is why we all are here on this site. I truly am looking forward to seeing what ideas we can create together.

Thanks again,

Jim Bolt

2 Reply

124 views

10 Replies

Jump to latestLatest

Sort by

Allan Smith
Contractor · Nashville, TN · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3mo
Not a lot of information is provided here.
1. where are you now
2. what are you currently doing
3. where are you trying to go (goals)
0 Reply
James Bolt
OP
Member since 2024 · 39 posts · 24 votes
3mo
We started this as alternate side hussle. I have found that I really enjoy the hunt for that diamond in the rough. My wife enjoys the rehabbing so it's nice fit. Now we are up to 7 and I'm trying to figure out how to make this company that will support us. We both have jobs but would rather do this. I know there are people out there that have already walked the path and developed their own companies. I was wondering what the next steps would be to move to the next level.
0 Reply
Arman AhmedPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 904 votes
3mo
Quote from @James Bolt:

Good morning, all.
I am 7 homes deep. The way I see it I'm in for the long hall. It is getting time to start looking to scaling the business. i was thinking about Apartment buildings but I'm not really sure if Section 8 (my tenants) in Ashtabula County would really work. I guess what I'm looking for are some fresh eyes and some creativity that is unbiased from the small company I am developing. I am hoping that this is why we all are here on this site. I truly am looking forward to seeing what ideas we can create together.
Thanks again,
Jim Bolt

Congrats on getting to 7 doors, that’s where scaling starts becoming more about systems than acquisitions. Before jumping straight into larger apartment buildings, I'd look at what has already worked for you and ask whether you can buy more of the same more efficiently. Sometimes adding a few duplexes or small multifamily properties creates less risk and complexity than a big leap into apartments. Since you're already in Ohio, you have the advantage of knowing the market, but it can also be worth exploring nearby Midwest markets for diversification and better opportunities. The biggest question I'd ask is whether your next purchase makes your business simpler and more scalable, not just bigger.
[email protected]614-418-6081
0 Reply
Garrett CrosbyPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Los Angeles, United States · Member since 2021 · 392 posts · 162 votes
3mo
7 doors and both you and your wife are enjoying different parts of the process — that's actually a really solid foundation. A lot of people hit burnout long before 7 because one partner isn't into it. The fact that she handles rehab and you handle the hunt means you're already operating with division of labor, which is how you have to think if you want to grow.
Arman's point about not necessarily jumping to apartments right away is worth sitting with. The leap from SFRs to a 20+ unit apartment building introduces a whole new set of complexity — different financing, property management requirements, a different tenant pool, and much larger capital outlays. It's not a bad move eventually but it's not always the right immediate next step.
For where you are, I'd think about a few things. First, what's the bottleneck? Is it deal flow, capital, or management bandwidth? If you're still self-managing 7 homes while working a job, that's probably your ceiling right now. Getting that under control either through a PM or tighter systems is the prerequisite for adding more. Second, small multifamily — duplexes, triplexes, quads — can be a cleaner bridge. You get more doors per transaction without the commercial financing complexity of larger apartments.
On Section 8 in Ashtabula — that's market-specific knowledge that's hard to get from outsiders. The real answer is what your existing Section 8 tenants are like and whether other landlords in that county are having good experiences with it. Talk to locals.
Happy to DM if you want to think through the next stage more specifically.
[email protected]
0 Reply
Arman AhmedPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 904 votes
3mo
Quote from @James Bolt:

Good morning, all.
I am 7 homes deep. The way I see it I'm in for the long hall. It is getting time to start looking to scaling the business. i was thinking about Apartment buildings but I'm not really sure if Section 8 (my tenants) in Ashtabula County would really work. I guess what I'm looking for are some fresh eyes and some creativity that is unbiased from the small company I am developing. I am hoping that this is why we all are here on this site. I truly am looking forward to seeing what ideas we can create together.
Thanks again,
Jim Bolt

Congrats on getting to 7 properties! Jim, that's where many investors start shifting from buying deals to building a real business. Before jumping into larger apartment buildings, I'd take a hard look at whether you can scale what’s already working. Sometimes, adding duplexes, fourplexes, or small multifamily properties can grow cash flow faster with less operational complexity. If your Section 8 portfolio is performing well, there may be room to expand that model into neighboring Midwest markets as well. The key question isn't "How do I get bigger?" but "How do I scale without creating more headaches?" That's usually where the best opportunities are found.
[email protected]614-418-6081
0 Reply
Cameron GreenPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2023 · 73 posts · 46 votes
3mo
Congrats on getting to 7 homes. That's a solid foundation.

If you're looking to scale in Ashtabula County, I think an apartment building could make sense, especially if you can find one with excess land or room for future development. Those opportunities can be hard to find, but they can create multiple ways to add value beyond just collecting rent.

My question would be: what challenges are you running into when you think about scaling? Is it finding deals, financing, management, staffing, or something else?

Sometimes the next step isn't necessarily a larger apartment building. It could be adding units through small multifamily properties, improving operations, or finding ways to increase income from what you already own.

I'd be interested to hear more about what you're trying to accomplish and what concerns you have about Section 8 tenants in a larger property.
[email protected]216-644-9728
0 Reply
James Bolt
OP
Member since 2024 · 39 posts · 24 votes
3mo
I'm to the point of questionability. We will be buying more homes and i look at the 25% that we put down on 7 homes (Is this the best and most effective way to spend this kind of money?) or should we be looking at small apartment buildings? I'm really starting to thing duplexes and triplexes. I'd really like to get to the point of doing this full time (as we all would). I'm not far off but want to get there looking at the long term. Looking at the big picture I would "guess" Duplexes" would be the smart way to go. I would love to hear any other suggestions.
i'm starting to
0 Reply
Wale LawalBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
3mo
@James Bolt
Great job hitting the 7 door level – now you’re starting to get somewhere. I would spend some time before entering apartments seeing how you might do things better, expand your portfolio, or invest in multifamily properties that you really understand. Yes, Section 8 can be done in apartments, but I would pay less attention to the tenants and more about building up a good asset.
Good luck!
[email protected]832-776-9582 Podcast Guest on Show #469
NETWORTH BUILDERS5236 Reviews
Website View Page
0 Reply
Robert EllisBusiness Member
Developer · Miami, FL · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3mo
Quote from @James Bolt:

Good morning, all.
I am 7 homes deep. The way I see it I'm in for the long hall. It is getting time to start looking to scaling the business. i was thinking about Apartment buildings but I'm not really sure if Section 8 (my tenants) in Ashtabula County would really work. I guess what I'm looking for are some fresh eyes and some creativity that is unbiased from the small company I am developing. I am hoping that this is why we all are here on this site. I truly am looking forward to seeing what ideas we can create together.
Thanks again,
Jim Bolt

I've seen a lot of investors hit this exact point.
What surprised me was that scaling wasn't really about moving from single-family homes to apartments. It was about figuring out what was actually limiting growth.
Early on, I assumed more units per purchase automatically meant a better business. Then I watched investors buy larger properties and end up spending more time managing complexity than building wealth.
The property wasn't the bottleneck.
Capital, systems, and management usually were.
One thing I learned is that going from 7 houses to 20 houses is often easier than going from 7 houses to one apartment building you don't fully understand. The transition sounds bigger than it actually is.
Most investors focus on doors.
I'd focus on repeatability.
If you bought ten more properties tomorrow using the exact model you're using today, what would break first—capital, deal flow, management, or your time?
[email protected]786-494-6766
Section 8 Launch52 Reviews
Website View Page
0 Reply

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.