Investor approaching the Detroit market, looking to build my core four

[Jeff Neikrie]

Hi BP Community, I'm an investor in a few Ohio markets and I'm looking to break into Detroit. I live in New York.

My initial research points to Detroit being an excellent cashflow market, almost too good! I would love some candid feedback from those local in Detroit especially those of you RE professionals that work with out of state investors. 

What are some up and coming neighborhoods?
Outside of the typical challenges for out of state investing, what are some of the pitfalls that may be unique to investing in Detroit?
Why are you excited about Detroit as a market in the long term?

Feel free to reply anything else you would like to share. I'm looking to network with best-in-class Agents, Property Managers, Contractors, and Lenders. 

Thanks for taking the time read my post - happy investing!   

Jeff

[Joe Hammel]

I'm pretty biased towards Metro Detroit for obvious reasons lol.

HOWEVER, I do personally make over $100k/yr cash flow from 16 properties here. All of which, I’ve purchased only within the last 4 years.

So I do practice what we preach, and it really freaking works.

Metro Detroit has what 99% of Real Estate Investors want. Couple hundred bucks a door monthly cash flow, double digit ROI, and yes the prices appreciate and you build equity.

There are 2 types of people who dog on Detroit..

1. People who don't actually own property in Detroit

2. People who did it wrong and weren't able to execute.

If you do it right, it’s statistically the best market in the country for cash flow.

I cash flow $100k a year off 23 doors and have built a ton of equity in a short amount of time.

Purchase: $80k-$130k

Rent: $1100-$1500 (no rent control in MI)

1% rule: 1%-1.4% rule deals

ROI: 10-14%

Cash flow: $150-$300/door (after all expenses and budgeting for maint, capex, vacancy)

Appreciation: 3-10%+ (has been double digit for a decade)

Location: C+, B-

These numbers are based on the "sweet spot" in Metro Detroit. These are largely in the suburbs and some markets within the city. You can find higher ROI (on paper) here and probably in other cities…but the probability of actually collecting rent significantly decreases. Where these numbers are found, there is a very high rate of rent actually being paid.

We have over a dozen Fortune 500 companies just in Metro Detroit with huge Healthcare, Auto, and mortgage industry National footprints. Ford, Rocket mortgage, Beaumont hospitals and more. All complimented with Amazon fulfillment centers, google, and more tech manufacturing jobs.

The bad reputation of “Detroit” comes from OOS investors wanting sub $40,000, D class properties in poor condition, because they pencil out to 2-3% deals on paper. We don’t buy those.

We have found what works and repeat it as much as funds allow.

Detroit has the the highest rent to price ratio in the country…and we’ve found the perfect balance of price/location within the area.

Here is a picture of my portfolio...