1st time investor

[Jacob Atkins]

Hey folks, I'm looking to invest in my first property - period. I don't even own my own house! 

Looking to start with small multifamily properties but from afar as my location is a bit cost prohibitive. I've done a lot of reading, but I have no experience. Just want to put that out over here and hope to talk to you all soon.

Jake

[Melissa Justice]

@Jacob Atkins,

Hey Jake! Welcome to the community! You’re definitely not alone-  a lot of first-time investors start remotely, especially when they live in high-cost areas. The good news is that small multifamily properties (like duplexes and triplexes) are a great way to house-hack from afar or build cash flow from day one, and you don’t need to own your own home first to get started.

Since you’ve been doing a lot of reading, you’re already laying the right foundation. The next big step is narrowing down markets where your dollars go further, where property management is reliable, and where multifamily deals still pencil out.

A few investor-friendly markets worth looking into for small multifamily properties include parts of the Midwest and Southeast — think Birmingham, AL; Cleveland/Akron, OH; or even Little Rock, AR. These areas tend to have:

Lower price points (often under $150K–$250K for small multis)

Steady rental demand

Landlord-friendly laws

Strong investor infrastructure (PMs, lenders, local agents)

Focus on building a trusted team and try to analyze multiple deals before diving in. You’re on the right track and asking questions here is a great move. Excited to see where your journey takes you! Always here if you want to crunch numbers or run scenarios on homes side-by-side!

Best of luck,

Melissa