Hi! New investor moving to Cleveland, OH

Tom Ott

Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes

Originally posted by @Josh Johnston:

Hi everyone! I just joined Bigger Pockets forums. I've already read the Ultimate Beginner's Guide and I'm working through The Book on Rental Property Investing, and I've listened to some podcasts, too. I have so much appreciation for Josh and Brandon, and I'm really looking forward to being in conversations with you all, too.

My wife and I are getting ready to move from Rhode Island to Cleveland in the coming months. We met while we were getting our teaching degrees, but nowadays she's at home with our two feisty (OH SO FEISTY) redheaded daughters and I'm the director of a middle school. But I am burned out on public education and I really don't want to start over in a new school in Ohio, so we're really considering starting real estate investing instead as a way to support our family. We know it'll be a slow process, and one or both of us might need to teach for a few more years after the move as we transition, but it's our hope and dream to spend more time with our (I can't emphasize this enough - feisty, feisty, zesty-level feisty) little redheads.

I want to be a member of this community, and, after a career of teaching, I believe in putting more in than you take out (believe me, that's what teachers are), so I guess I have a question about norms for this community. My wife and I are slowly building a plan for how to invest once we move to the Cleveland area. When we have a first draft, would it be appropriate to post it here for feedback? It wouldn't be advertising or self promoting at all - more like "here's a very messy first attempt at a plan by a brand newbie, what mistakes am I making or what do I not know?" Is that okay to do? Of course, I'm excited to dig into other conversations, too (even though I don't have a lot of expertise yet!) and we'll talk to a financial planner and a CPA, etc, on top of that!

I'd love to talk to anyone working in the Cleveland area. We have in-laws that live in Chagrin Falls (which is why we're moving there - my wife wants to be close to her family) but we aren't committed to any specific area beyond "not too, toooo far from Chagrin." We don't know much about the neighborhoods, only have a few contacts, and we're both slightly terrified.

Thank you all so much for being you. We can't wait to get started!

Hello and welcome! Happy to have you in Cleveland!

OP

Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 36 votes

Originally posted by @Remington Lyman:

@Josh Johnston Good luck on your REI start and welcome to Ohio. I moved here 7 years ago from CT and love it. It can be rewarding if done correctly.

Thank you, Remington! Next step: figure out how to do it correctly!

I actually grew up in CT, so I guess we're in this together.

OP

Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 36 votes

Originally posted by @Tom Ott:

Originally posted by @Josh Johnston:

Hi everyone! I just joined Bigger Pockets forums. I've already read the Ultimate Beginner's Guide and I'm working through The Book on Rental Property Investing, and I've listened to some podcasts, too. I have so much appreciation for Josh and Brandon, and I'm really looking forward to being in conversations with you all, too.

My wife and I are getting ready to move from Rhode Island to Cleveland in the coming months. We met while we were getting our teaching degrees, but nowadays she's at home with our two feisty (OH SO FEISTY) redheaded daughters and I'm the director of a middle school. But I am burned out on public education and I really don't want to start over in a new school in Ohio, so we're really considering starting real estate investing instead as a way to support our family. We know it'll be a slow process, and one or both of us might need to teach for a few more years after the move as we transition, but it's our hope and dream to spend more time with our (I can't emphasize this enough - feisty, feisty, zesty-level feisty) little redheads.

I want to be a member of this community, and, after a career of teaching, I believe in putting more in than you take out (believe me, that's what teachers are), so I guess I have a question about norms for this community. My wife and I are slowly building a plan for how to invest once we move to the Cleveland area. When we have a first draft, would it be appropriate to post it here for feedback? It wouldn't be advertising or self promoting at all - more like "here's a very messy first attempt at a plan by a brand newbie, what mistakes am I making or what do I not know?" Is that okay to do? Of course, I'm excited to dig into other conversations, too (even though I don't have a lot of expertise yet!) and we'll talk to a financial planner and a CPA, etc, on top of that!

I'd love to talk to anyone working in the Cleveland area. We have in-laws that live in Chagrin Falls (which is why we're moving there - my wife wants to be close to her family) but we aren't committed to any specific area beyond "not too, toooo far from Chagrin." We don't know much about the neighborhoods, only have a few contacts, and we're both slightly terrified.

Thank you all so much for being you. We can't wait to get started!

Hello and welcome! Happy to have you in Cleveland!

Thanks, Tom! Weird fact: I was actually born in Cleveland but my parents moved me to Connecticut when I was little and I grew up there. So, really, this is sort of a wayward son come-home kind of moment for me.

James Wise

Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 31k+ posts · 20k+ votes

Originally posted by @Josh Johnston:

Hi everyone! I just joined Bigger Pockets forums. I've already read the Ultimate Beginner's Guide and I'm working through The Book on Rental Property Investing, and I've listened to some podcasts, too. I have so much appreciation for Josh and Brandon, and I'm really looking forward to being in conversations with you all, too.

My wife and I are getting ready to move from Rhode Island to Cleveland in the coming months. We met while we were getting our teaching degrees, but nowadays she's at home with our two feisty (OH SO FEISTY) redheaded daughters and I'm the director of a middle school. But I am burned out on public education and I really don't want to start over in a new school in Ohio, so we're really considering starting real estate investing instead as a way to support our family. We know it'll be a slow process, and one or both of us might need to teach for a few more years after the move as we transition, but it's our hope and dream to spend more time with our (I can't emphasize this enough - feisty, feisty, zesty-level feisty) little redheads.

I want to be a member of this community, and, after a career of teaching, I believe in putting more in than you take out (believe me, that's what teachers are), so I guess I have a question about norms for this community. My wife and I are slowly building a plan for how to invest once we move to the Cleveland area. When we have a first draft, would it be appropriate to post it here for feedback? It wouldn't be advertising or self promoting at all - more like "here's a very messy first attempt at a plan by a brand newbie, what mistakes am I making or what do I not know?" Is that okay to do? Of course, I'm excited to dig into other conversations, too (even though I don't have a lot of expertise yet!) and we'll talk to a financial planner and a CPA, etc, on top of that!

I'd love to talk to anyone working in the Cleveland area. We have in-laws that live in Chagrin Falls (which is why we're moving there - my wife wants to be close to her family) but we aren't committed to any specific area beyond "not too, toooo far from Chagrin." We don't know much about the neighborhoods, only have a few contacts, and we're both slightly terrified.

Thank you all so much for being you. We can't wait to get started!

Welcome aboard Josh.

OP

Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 36 votes

Originally posted by @James Wise:

Originally posted by @Josh Johnston:

Hi everyone! I just joined Bigger Pockets forums. I've already read the Ultimate Beginner's Guide and I'm working through The Book on Rental Property Investing, and I've listened to some podcasts, too. I have so much appreciation for Josh and Brandon, and I'm really looking forward to being in conversations with you all, too.

My wife and I are getting ready to move from Rhode Island to Cleveland in the coming months. We met while we were getting our teaching degrees, but nowadays she's at home with our two feisty (OH SO FEISTY) redheaded daughters and I'm the director of a middle school. But I am burned out on public education and I really don't want to start over in a new school in Ohio, so we're really considering starting real estate investing instead as a way to support our family. We know it'll be a slow process, and one or both of us might need to teach for a few more years after the move as we transition, but it's our hope and dream to spend more time with our (I can't emphasize this enough - feisty, feisty, zesty-level feisty) little redheads.

I want to be a member of this community, and, after a career of teaching, I believe in putting more in than you take out (believe me, that's what teachers are), so I guess I have a question about norms for this community. My wife and I are slowly building a plan for how to invest once we move to the Cleveland area. When we have a first draft, would it be appropriate to post it here for feedback? It wouldn't be advertising or self promoting at all - more like "here's a very messy first attempt at a plan by a brand newbie, what mistakes am I making or what do I not know?" Is that okay to do? Of course, I'm excited to dig into other conversations, too (even though I don't have a lot of expertise yet!) and we'll talk to a financial planner and a CPA, etc, on top of that!

I'd love to talk to anyone working in the Cleveland area. We have in-laws that live in Chagrin Falls (which is why we're moving there - my wife wants to be close to her family) but we aren't committed to any specific area beyond "not too, toooo far from Chagrin." We don't know much about the neighborhoods, only have a few contacts, and we're both slightly terrified.

Thank you all so much for being you. We can't wait to get started!

Welcome aboard Josh.

Thanks, James! Looking forward to listening to episode 127!

Nicole Heasley Beitenman

Investor · Youngstown, OH · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes

@Josh Johnston Those are absolutely appropriate questions. I work in Cleveland and own one property there which I lived in for several years. I'm always happy to connect with fellow local investors!

OP

Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 36 votes

Originally posted by @Nicole Heasley Beitenman:

@Josh Johnston Those are absolutely appropriate questions. I work in Cleveland and own one property there which I lived in for several years. I'm always happy to connect with fellow local investors!

Thank you so much, Nicole! Congratulations on your third buy and hold in March! I'm jealous that you really feel like a landlord. Can't wait for that feeling, too!

Ryan Evans

Rental Property Investor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2016 · 653 posts · 769 votes

Good luck with the move and getting up and running with your first investment! I moved out here last year to build my portfolio faster and it's been quite an interesting year full of ups and downs. If you can finance a nice side-by-side duplex then that might be a good start to get your feet wet as a landlord.

OP

Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 36 votes

Originally posted by @Ryan Evans:

Good luck with the move and getting up and running with your first investment! I moved out here last year to build my portfolio faster and it's been quite an interesting year full of ups and downs. If you can finance a nice side-by-side duplex then that might be a good start to get your feet wet as a landlord.

That's helpful advice! Thanks, Ryan. Good to hear that Cleveland's a desirable market, too!

Dmitriy Fomichenko

Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes

@Josh Johnston

Welcome to the BP family! Good to have you here! Here are some recommendations for you:

Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users
Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts
Read Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing
Check out BP Podcasts: https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcast

Wishing you the best!

OP

Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 36 votes

Originally posted by @Dmitriy Fomichenko:

@Josh Johnston

Welcome to the BP family! Good to have you here! Here are some recommendations for you:

Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users
Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts
Read Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing
Check out BP Podcasts: https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcast

Wishing you the best!

Thank you, Dmitriy! I feel like I'm already off to a stronger start thanks to this community. I was a little lost of setting up a keyword, so that's a big help. Thanks!

Frank Patalano

Rental Property Investor · East Providence, RI · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

Originally posted by @Josh Johnston:

Hi everyone! I just joined Bigger Pockets forums. I've already read the Ultimate Beginner's Guide and I'm working through The Book on Rental Property Investing, and I've listened to some podcasts, too. I have so much appreciation for Josh and Brandon, and I'm really looking forward to being in conversations with you all, too.

My wife and I are getting ready to move from Rhode Island to Cleveland in the coming months. We met while we were getting our teaching degrees, but nowadays she's at home with our two feisty (OH SO FEISTY) redheaded daughters and I'm the director of a middle school. But I am burned out on public education and I really don't want to start over in a new school in Ohio, so we're really considering starting real estate investing instead as a way to support our family. We know it'll be a slow process, and one or both of us might need to teach for a few more years after the move as we transition, but it's our hope and dream to spend more time with our (I can't emphasize this enough - feisty, feisty, zesty-level feisty) little redheads.

I want to be a member of this community, and, after a career of teaching, I believe in putting more in than you take out (believe me, that's what teachers are), so I guess I have a question about norms for this community. My wife and I are slowly building a plan for how to invest once we move to the Cleveland area. When we have a first draft, would it be appropriate to post it here for feedback? It wouldn't be advertising or self promoting at all - more like "here's a very messy first attempt at a plan by a brand newbie, what mistakes am I making or what do I not know?" Is that okay to do? Of course, I'm excited to dig into other conversations, too (even though I don't have a lot of expertise yet!) and we'll talk to a financial planner and a CPA, etc, on top of that!

I'd love to talk to anyone working in the Cleveland area. We have in-laws that live in Chagrin Falls (which is why we're moving there - my wife wants to be close to her family) but we aren't committed to any specific area beyond "not too, toooo far from Chagrin." We don't know much about the neighborhoods, only have a few contacts, and we're both slightly terrified.

Thank you all so much for being you. We can't wait to get started!

Good Luck Josh. I was a full time school teacher in RI for years.

Started buying rentals about 10 years ago.

Currently looking to expand into Columbus.

OP

Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 36 votes

Originally posted by @Frank Patalano:

Originally posted by @Josh Johnston:

Hi everyone! I just joined Bigger Pockets forums. I've already read the Ultimate Beginner's Guide and I'm working through The Book on Rental Property Investing, and I've listened to some podcasts, too. I have so much appreciation for Josh and Brandon, and I'm really looking forward to being in conversations with you all, too.

My wife and I are getting ready to move from Rhode Island to Cleveland in the coming months. We met while we were getting our teaching degrees, but nowadays she's at home with our two feisty (OH SO FEISTY) redheaded daughters and I'm the director of a middle school. But I am burned out on public education and I really don't want to start over in a new school in Ohio, so we're really considering starting real estate investing instead as a way to support our family. We know it'll be a slow process, and one or both of us might need to teach for a few more years after the move as we transition, but it's our hope and dream to spend more time with our (I can't emphasize this enough - feisty, feisty, zesty-level feisty) little redheads.

I want to be a member of this community, and, after a career of teaching, I believe in putting more in than you take out (believe me, that's what teachers are), so I guess I have a question about norms for this community. My wife and I are slowly building a plan for how to invest once we move to the Cleveland area. When we have a first draft, would it be appropriate to post it here for feedback? It wouldn't be advertising or self promoting at all - more like "here's a very messy first attempt at a plan by a brand newbie, what mistakes am I making or what do I not know?" Is that okay to do? Of course, I'm excited to dig into other conversations, too (even though I don't have a lot of expertise yet!) and we'll talk to a financial planner and a CPA, etc, on top of that!

I'd love to talk to anyone working in the Cleveland area. We have in-laws that live in Chagrin Falls (which is why we're moving there - my wife wants to be close to her family) but we aren't committed to any specific area beyond "not too, toooo far from Chagrin." We don't know much about the neighborhoods, only have a few contacts, and we're both slightly terrified.

Thank you all so much for being you. We can't wait to get started!

Good Luck Josh. I was a full time school teacher in RI for years.

Started buying rentals about 10 years ago.

Currently looking to expand into Columbus.

Thanks, Frank! Sounds like we're on very similar paths!

Nicole Heasley Beitenman

Investor · Youngstown, OH · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes

@Josh Johnston Thank you! Stay consistent and involved on BP and the physical Cleveland RE community, and you will get there!

Colin M.

Member since 2018 · 70 posts · 15 votes

Hi Josh,

I am in a similar boat only im not moving to Cleveland, Im based in NYC but looking at investing in Cleveland. Would love to connect to see how your doing, where your looking, waht your looking for etc!

@Nicole Heasley Beitenman you advise to stay involved in the physical Cleveland RE community, is there one on here that we could join?

Account Closed

Real Estate Agent · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2019 · 359 posts · 295 votes

@Josh Johnston Welcome to Cleveland! I think you will find many people with similar stories as you that are looking to shift from their intended careers to a career in real estate investing (myself included). I hope the best for you and your family. Biggerpockets is a fantastic place to post your rough draft, ideas, questions, etc. You will get very honest opinions and experiences which is exactly what you need to be successful in this realm. Good luck!