Newbie investor - Looking for help and guidance.

[Sharan Sudhir]

I am first time investor with no experience in Real Estate, Canadian National, have 50K for fix and flip or BRRRR properties, looking to connect with agents, lenders and contractors who do this everyday primarily focused in Cleveland and Akron area, want to work with someone who can help and guide me through the process on what to look for in a neighborhood, how conservative I should be with rehab budget and execute with a plan.

I have visited Cleveland thrice but currently I am all over the place, want to understand it more through a agents perspective.

Thanks.

[J Castro]

Hi @Sharan Sudhir, welcome to BP!
A good first step is building your team before you buy the property.

With $50K available and no prior experience, I’d be especially conservative with your first Cleveland/Akron project. The goal shouldn’t just be finding a property that “looks cheap” — it’s finding a deal where the purchase price, rehab budget, financing, holding costs, and exit strategy all leave enough room for surprises.

I’d recommend connecting with:

• An investor-friendly agent who knows the neighborhoods block-by-block
• A lender who regularly finances fix & flips/BRRRRs
• A reliable contractor who can provide detailed scopes and realistic rehab estimates
• A title company/attorney familiar with investor transactions
• A local investor who has actually completed projects in the area

For your first deal, I would underwrite conservatively and stress-test the numbers rather than relying on the best-case ARV or rehab estimate. Make sure you understand your total cash requirement, including down payment, closing costs, rehab, interest, insurance, utilities, permits, and contingency.

Also, don't underestimate the importance of neighborhood selection. In Cleveland and Akron, two properties that look similar on paper can perform very differently based on the exact location, street, rental demand, resale activity, and surrounding properties.

If you're looking for a lender, I'd be happy to discuss the financing side and show you how we typically look at a fix & flip or BRRRR deal before you make an offer. Sometimes getting the financing structure figured out first can help you determine what your actual buy box should be.

Best of luck — being willing to learn before jumping into the first deal is already a good start.