Challenges Out-of-State Investors Face in Detroit & Toledo

[Leroy K. Williams]

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of out-of-state investors looking into Detroit and Toledo. I’ve seen opportunity here, but it also comes with challenges that don’t always show up in the numbers. A lot of people I’ve spoken with say the hardest part is trying to manage things from a distance, whether it’s trusting the right crew for renovations, finding tenants who are reliable, or just handling the small day-to-day landlord tasks that pop up when you’re hundreds of miles away.

For those of you who invest out of state, what’s been the toughest part for you? And if you’re considering Detroit or Toledo, what’s on your mind before you take the leap? I’m curious how others are approaching it.

[Remington Lyman]

Quote from @James Wise:

Quote from @Remington Lyman:

Quote from @James Wise:

Quote from @Jimmy Lieu:

Quote from @Leroy K. Williams:

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of out-of-state investors looking into Detroit and Toledo. I’ve seen opportunity here, but it also comes with challenges that don’t always show up in the numbers. A lot of people I’ve spoken with say the hardest part is trying to manage things from a distance, whether it’s trusting the right crew for renovations, finding tenants who are reliable, or just handling the small day-to-day landlord tasks that pop up when you’re hundreds of miles away.

For those of you who invest out of state, what’s been the toughest part for you? And if you’re considering Detroit or Toledo, what’s on your mind before you take the leap? I’m curious how others are approaching it.

Hey Leroy, great topic and totally agree that out-of-state investing can look great on paper but comes with real challenges once you’re managing from afar. I’ve found the toughest part is definitely building a trustworthy local team—contractors, property managers, and handymen can make or break your experience. I actually moved from Portland, Oregon to Columbus, Ohio back in 2020 to start investing and now own 10+ rentals here, and I’ve seen a ton of out-of-state investors have success in this market because it’s landlord-friendly, affordable, and stable. Columbus is one of those markets where the macroeconomics are really strong—tons of population growth, new job creation, and huge companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Honda, and Microsoft investing heavily here. You can still find properties in the $120–180K range that cash flow and hit the 1% rule, which is becoming harder to find in many metros. If someone’s thinking about investing long-distance, I’d say the key is choosing a market with strong fundamentals and then building a solid local network to support you. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!