Better for newbie REI - Georgia or Virginia?

[David Travieso]

Good day BP family,

I'm asking the BP family for some helpful advice. My name is David T. and have been living in Locust grove, Georgia (40 min south of ATL) for the last 4 years from New York. I've been offered a promotion in Warrenton, VA, but not sure if I will accept. Throughout this pandemic I have really been putting my efforts into real estate investing education. My plan is to start taking action in early 2022. Now with the job offer, I'm not sure to stay or move to VA.

I'm looking at the housing market in VA and it seem much higher and more scarce than Georgia. I do like the promotion but in the grand scheme of things I want to retire early through real estate investing. And it looks like Georgia has more volume and cheaper. If anyone with helpful advice, thoughts, please share. I'm sure we can get a good conversation going.

Thanks all, have a great day.

[Taylor L.]

GA & VA are both large states with a range of market conditions. Here in VA we range from the expensive areas, like NoVA, to mid-range areas like Richmond, to lower cost areas in the more rural parts of the state. The lower cost areas tend to be that way for a reason - many have stagnant or negative population and job growth over the past few decades, so people are gradually moving away and average wages are relatively stagnant.

I'd encourage you to narrow it down to specific markets in both states for more detailed comparison. Both states have strong and weak markets for investors.

Consider the strategy you're planning to use as well. How active or passive do you want to be, how you're accessing capital & credit, how you're going to build deal flow, etc.