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Chintan Patel
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Need help and advice to invest in first rental property

Chintan Patel
Posted Mar 24 2023, 17:42

Hello everyone,

I am seeking help and advice on investing in my first rental property. Specifically, I am looking to invest in a single-family property around $250K, but I am unsure of which area to invest in for 2023.

I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice on areas that are currently good for investment, as well as any tips or suggestions for someone new to the rental property market.

Thank you in advance for your help!

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Jason Wray
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Jason Wray
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Replied Mar 25 2023, 00:11

Chintan,

There are a lot of great places places to invest right now I am seeing a lot of activity in IN, TN, FL, OH, and may other states. Reach out to Beau Matlock who owns Matlock Realty Group in Indiana and ask him to send you a property list of what SFR & 2-4 Units are available. I think you might be amazed at some of the price points and cash flow opportunities.

If your looking to buy in the $250K range that puts you into the 2-4 Unit range just might have to do a little TLC or buy turn key.  

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Kristen L Garner
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Kristen L Garner
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Replied Mar 25 2023, 06:23

Hi Chintan, In the $250k price range, I'm seeing the most volume in IN, OH, MI, and FL right now with GA being a runner up. 

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Chintan Patel
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Chintan Patel
Replied Mar 25 2023, 07:22

Thanks Jason and Kristen. I am living in Chicago so currently I am considering investing in Chicago suburbs. Is it good idea to invest outside of Chicago ? 

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Eliott Elias#3 BRRRR - Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat Contributor
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Eliott Elias#3 BRRRR - Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat Contributor
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Replied Mar 25 2023, 07:22

Invest within a 30 minute radius from where you live. Avoid markets you do not have easy access to when you are starting out.

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Paul De Luca
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Paul De Luca
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Replied Mar 25 2023, 07:52
Quote from @Chintan Patel:

Thanks Jason and Kristen. I am living in Chicago so currently I am considering investing in Chicago suburbs. Is it good idea to invest outside of Chicago ? 

 Depends on your goals and preferences. I agree with @Eliott Elias.

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Lee Burns
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Lee Burns
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Replied Mar 25 2023, 13:14

I closed on a 2 family in the Avondale Park area on Feb 27th. They were asking 350 and it was on the market off/on for a bit, but I used a VA home loan and bought it for 295 (they accepted 285, but my lender and REA helped me strategize putting the price at 295) and the seller even offered some money toward closing. It's totally doable and the neighbourhood seems nice so far. Do you have at least $10k in savings and have you thought about using FHA to start?

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Chintan Patel
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Chintan Patel
Replied Mar 25 2023, 14:45
Quote from @Paul De Luca:
Quote from @Chintan Patel:

Thanks Jason and Kristen. I am living in Chicago so currently I am considering investing in Chicago suburbs. Is it good idea to invest outside of Chicago ? 

 Depends on your goals and preferences. I agree with @Eliott Elias.

 Thanks for the advice Eliott and Paul.

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Chintan Patel
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Chintan Patel
Replied Mar 25 2023, 14:48
Quote from @Lee Burns:

I closed on a 2 family in the Avondale Park area on Feb 27th. They were asking 350 and it was on the market off/on for a bit, but I used a VA home loan and bought it for 295 (they accepted 285, but my lender and REA helped me strategize putting the price at 295) and the seller even offered some money toward closing. It's totally doable and the neighbourhood seems nice so far. Do you have at least $10k in savings and have you thought about using FHA to start?


I have saving to put 20% down and financing is not a problem for me. getting into right first rental property and real estate market is challenging for me since I am new into this.

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Scott P.
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Scott P.
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Replied Mar 26 2023, 10:39

In my anecdotal experience of owning in Indiana and having friends & co-workers who own rental property in Cook County, it seems to me that Chicago is more tenant-friendly than Indiana and that Indiana is more friendly to folks who work, save and make down payments to invest in rental property to provide Others a nice place to live in exchange for a fair, market-based monthly payment. 

From Chicago you could easily invest "local" in northwest Indiana.

Connect w/me here on BP if you'd like me to try to connect you with a friend of a friend, born I think in India, who owns rental property in Indiana.

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Mark Ainley
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Mark Ainley
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Replied Mar 26 2023, 12:58

@Chintan Patel if you want to DM your email I can share with you a “Best places to invest in Chicago suburbs” ebook I wrote up.  Pros and cons of choosing city or suburbs depending on location and if you are managing how far you will be from the site. 

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John Warren
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John Warren
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Replied Mar 27 2023, 04:05

@Chintan Patel I am a big believer in investing close to where you live. You are the number one factor in the success of your property, even if you are using other people to do work for you like manage, lease, do construction, or rent out the property. If you invest in a different state, you will have much less control over the outcome and you will likely not have as positive of an experience. 

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Harmeet Dhaliwal
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Harmeet Dhaliwal
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Replied Mar 27 2023, 06:06

Chintan,

Finding the right property at the right location is key. Have you considered Indianapolis? Indianapolis has grown consistently over the past few years and is a stable market.

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Chintan Patel
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Chintan Patel
Replied Mar 27 2023, 14:06
Quote from @John Warren:

@Chintan Patel I am a big believer in investing close to where you live. You are the number one factor in the success of your property, even if you are using other people to do work for you like manage, lease, do construction, or rent out the property. If you invest in a different state, you will have much less control over the outcome and you will likely not have as positive of an experience. 

Thanks John for the advice. yes, this is the reason I am considering Chicago suburbs only.

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Chintan Patel
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Chintan Patel
Replied Mar 27 2023, 14:07
Quote from @Harmeet Dhaliwal:

Chintan,

Finding the right property at the right location is key. Have you considered Indianapolis? Indianapolis has grown consistently over the past few years and is a stable market.


 Hi Harmeet,

No. I did not consider Indianapolis. Looking into Chicago suburbs only.

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Victor So
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Victor So
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Replied Mar 27 2023, 17:34
Quote from @Chintan Patel:

Hello everyone,

I am seeking help and advice on investing in my first rental property. Specifically, I am looking to invest in a single-family property around $250K, but I am unsure of which area to invest in for 2023.

I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice on areas that are currently good for investment, as well as any tips or suggestions for someone new to the rental property market.

Thank you in advance for your help!


 Hey Chintan, what strategy are you looking to employ? Househack? Buy and hold?

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Chintan Patel
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Chintan Patel
Replied Mar 27 2023, 18:16
Quote from @Victor So:
Quote from @Chintan Patel:

Hello everyone,

I am seeking help and advice on investing in my first rental property. Specifically, I am looking to invest in a single-family property around $250K, but I am unsure of which area to invest in for 2023.

I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice on areas that are currently good for investment, as well as any tips or suggestions for someone new to the rental property market.

Thank you in advance for your help!


 Hey Chintan, what strategy are you looking to employ? Househack? Buy and hold?


Right now considering buy and hold.

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Nick Giulioni
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Nick Giulioni
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Replied Mar 29 2023, 03:32
Quote from @Harmeet Dhaliwal:

Chintan,

Finding the right property at the right location is key. Have you considered Indianapolis? Indianapolis has grown consistently over the past few years and is a stable market.


 Yup! The water's warm out here! :)