Where in the US should I live?

Member since 2022 · 4 posts · 11 votes

Hi everyone!

I am a teenager from Sweden who finish school soon. There are multiple reasons for me to move to the US, the main reason however is real estate since Sweden is a very socialism country the government taxes everything. I want to move to a place where I can buy cheap rentals with stable cashflow. I also want to have kinda nice weather since Sweden is like living in a refrigerator with a broken lightbulb:)

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James Wise

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

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Tchaka Owen:

Congrats on the degree. You do your numbers, I'll do mine. And if you dig into the 'happiness quotient' you'll see the reason. Just let the poor Swedish dude come here and buy RE without throwing your politics out there....
Peace, bro....

We've got a dude in Sweden who is being told what Sweden is like by a dude who read about Sweden in a book on a college campus in the US. This debate isn't going to go anywhere folks. Moving on.

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Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Manco Snead:

I'll move to Sweden and you can have my spot in the US.
Don't let the door hit ya....err, well you know......
4 Reply
Ryan KellyBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y
@Sebastian Warg come on down to Texas. Warm weather, good food, and TONS of real estate!
[email protected]512-674-5478
Ryan Kelly Group - Keller Williams5112 Reviews
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4 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Ryan Kelly:

@Sebastian Warg come on down to Texas. Warm weather, good food, and TONS of real estate!

You forgot the great Music!!!
1 Reply
Account Closed
Denver, CO · Member since 2018 · 133 posts · 97 votes
4y
@Sebastian Warg I am going to go against the grain here and suggest you look into Austin, Texas.
For cashflow and low barriers to entry, I agree Ohio would be a great place to build a small portfolio. Colorado (my favorite state) would be an incredible place for lifestyle and real estate appreciation.
But given your age and where you are in your career, a city like Austin is going to be so much more dynamic and young and has so much to offer to someone your age that you just can't get in other cities. And even in a down market, the RE market in Austin will come back with a roar.
3 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y
Phoenix also has some great areas and the weather is not as bad as you may think (only a few months a year)...
0 Reply
Ryan KellyBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Ryan Kelly:

@Sebastian Warg come on down to Texas. Warm weather, good food, and TONS of real estate!

You forgot the great Music!!!

How could I forget? The ladies are pretty nice looking too :)
[email protected]512-674-5478
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2 Reply
Gary L Wallman
Rental Property Investor · Beavercreek OH · Member since 2018 · 422 posts · 970 votes
4y
Quote from @Steven Foster Wilson:

Quote from @Sebastian Warg:

Hi everyone!

I am a teenager from Sweden who finish school soon. There are multiple reasons for me to move to the US, the main reason however is real estate since Sweden is a very socialism country the government taxes everything. I want to move to a place where I can buy cheap rentals with stable cashflow. I also want to have kinda nice weather since Sweden is like living in a refrigerator with a broken lightbulb:)

Hi Sebastian,
I recommend the major cities in Ohio:

-Columbus, great for appreciation, pp is a bit higher around $220k for multifamily https://learn.roofstock.com/bl...

-Cincinnati, has a mix of cash flow and appreciation, with average multifamily around $180k. https://www.noradarealestate.c...
-Cleveland, has a lot of cash flow potential, average multiform around $140k. https://learn.roofstock.com/bl...

There are other smaller markets like Dayton, Akron, and Newark, and we are starting to see these areas boom due to huge investors and corporations like Intel choosing to set up shop in these kinds of areas.
Ohio has all 4 sessions which can be very nice. You can sometimes even have all 4 on the same day. It would be a great market to start out in with the high demand for housing and affordable living.

I met my wife in Florida. She convinced me to move to Ohio for the 4 seasons and she was correct. Hot, cold, wet and tornado are the unfortunate 4. To this day I ask her what "off" means on the thermostat. LOL
In all seriousness though, we've lived here over 25 years (Beavercreek Township, a suburb of Dayton) and love it. I lived in a lot of places and I like Ohio the best. Also managed to acquire 150 paid for doors!
2 Reply
Steven Foster Wilson
Rental Property Investor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Gary L Wallman:

Quote from @Steven Foster Wilson:

Quote from @Sebastian Warg:

Hi everyone!

I am a teenager from Sweden who finish school soon. There are multiple reasons for me to move to the US, the main reason however is real estate since Sweden is a very socialism country the government taxes everything. I want to move to a place where I can buy cheap rentals with stable cashflow. I also want to have kinda nice weather since Sweden is like living in a refrigerator with a broken lightbulb:)

Hi Sebastian,
I recommend the major cities in Ohio:

-Columbus, great for appreciation, pp is a bit higher around $220k for multifamily https://learn.roofstock.com/bl...

-Cincinnati, has a mix of cash flow and appreciation, with average multifamily around $180k. https://www.noradarealestate.c...
-Cleveland, has a lot of cash flow potential, average multiform around $140k. https://learn.roofstock.com/bl...

There are other smaller markets like Dayton, Akron, and Newark, and we are starting to see these areas boom due to huge investors and corporations like Intel choosing to set up shop in these kinds of areas.
Ohio has all 4 sessions which can be very nice. You can sometimes even have all 4 on the same day. It would be a great market to start out in with the high demand for housing and affordable living.

I met my wife in Florida. She convinced me to move to Ohio for the 4 seasons and she was correct. Hot, cold, wet and tornado are the unfortunate 4. To this day I ask her what "off" means on the thermostat. LOL
In all seriousness though, we've lived here over 25 years (Beavercreek Township, a suburb of Dayton) and love it. I lived in a lot of places and I like Ohio the best. Also managed to acquire 150 paid for doors!

Wow Gary, That is great! When did you start your journey?
0 Reply
Simon Ashbaugh
Realtor · Columbus Ohio, Cleveland Ohio · Member since 2022 · 849 posts · 830 votes
4y
Hi Sebastian,
Columbus Ohio is a great mix of cashflow and appreciation, there's tons of jobs here, its landlord friendly, and the is very tame (not too hot in the summer, not too cold in the winter). Definitely do some research on it before making a decision!
1 Reply
Jayson Cain
Lender · Manhattan Beach, CA · Member since 2017 · 423 posts · 268 votes
4y
Hi @Sebastian Warg, I'm based in Southern California, but I have started my out-of-state real estate journey in Indianapolis. Now, I have a portfolio of Short Term Rentals and Long Term Rentals. I've started looking at Columbus because my business partners have found success doing Mid Term Rentals there and the returns are solid.
Happy to share my experiences and chat with you more if you're interested.

0 Reply
Wale LawalBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
4y
@Sebastian Warg
I recommend you consider Houston, TX!

I personally have rentals here in Houston, the cash-on-cash return and appreciation are steady.
Over the last five years home values in Houston increased by over 54%.
You should select a market that will meet your investment goals.

A local Investor-Agent can help shorten your learning curve and save you a lot of headaches as they tend to understand the market better.

All the best!
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1 Reply
Gary L Wallman
Rental Property Investor · Beavercreek OH · Member since 2018 · 422 posts · 970 votes
4y
Quote from @Steven Foster Wilson:

Quote from @Gary L Wallman:

Quote from @Steven Foster Wilson:

Quote from @Sebastian Warg:

Hi everyone!

I am a teenager from Sweden who finish school soon. There are multiple reasons for me to move to the US, the main reason however is real estate since Sweden is a very socialism country the government taxes everything. I want to move to a place where I can buy cheap rentals with stable cashflow. I also want to have kinda nice weather since Sweden is like living in a refrigerator with a broken lightbulb:)

Hi Sebastian,
I recommend the major cities in Ohio:

-Columbus, great for appreciation, pp is a bit higher around $220k for multifamily https://learn.roofstock.com/bl...

-Cincinnati, has a mix of cash flow and appreciation, with average multifamily around $180k. https://www.noradarealestate.c...
-Cleveland, has a lot of cash flow potential, average multiform around $140k. https://learn.roofstock.com/bl...

There are other smaller markets like Dayton, Akron, and Newark, and we are starting to see these areas boom due to huge investors and corporations like Intel choosing to set up shop in these kinds of areas.
Ohio has all 4 sessions which can be very nice. You can sometimes even have all 4 on the same day. It would be a great market to start out in with the high demand for housing and affordable living.

I met my wife in Florida. She convinced me to move to Ohio for the 4 seasons and she was correct. Hot, cold, wet and tornado are the unfortunate 4. To this day I ask her what "off" means on the thermostat. LOL
In all seriousness though, we've lived here over 25 years (Beavercreek Township, a suburb of Dayton) and love it. I lived in a lot of places and I like Ohio the best. Also managed to acquire 150 paid for doors!

Wow Gary, That is great! When did you start your journey?

2008. Saw RE I could buy at half off of replacement cost. You know the line: be greedy when others are fearful.
0 Reply
Michael Smythies
Real Estate Broker · Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 62 posts · 68 votes
4y
Quote from @Sergey A. Petrov:

"unreasonable landlord laws" are an opportunity as far as I am concerned. Things change, regulations evolve, life advances in some direction. If you keep up, you become an expert in a narrowing field because people don't like change. So, they end up going to a place where "regulations are reasonable" (translated to "something I am used to and have done for a long time") and stay there for a bit until those "regulations" catch up with that area. I remain active in Seattle and can navigate the ever-changing guidelines in my sleep. Some of my clients and friends sold their holdings, bought elsewhere, and are now realizing the return just isn't the same whether it is less cash flow or lack of meaningful appreciation.

Hi Sergey,
I'd be curious to know more about the rules and regulations regarding STR's in the greater Seattle area. Where are you finding most success with your clients? Where do you suggest investing in STR's in this market and why? Much appreciated!
0 Reply
Sergey A. Petrov
Real Estate Consultant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 784 votes
4y
@Michael Smythies - First Hill, a bit into Cap Hill, around Pike Place Market and Belltown. There aren’t too many that are short term rental friendly and I keep coming across others that I wasn’t aware before. Just saw a newer build on Cap Hill that allows short term…
1 Reply
Michael Smythies
Real Estate Broker · Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 62 posts · 68 votes
4y
@Sergey A. Petrov - thanks for the input! I'll take a look at some of these areas.
Here are just a few that I've found that seem to be STR friendly: 215 17th Ave E, 2727 Franklin Ave E, 2415 2nd Ave, 524 6th Ave West, 2132 5th Ave, 1500 4th Ave.
The question is, will these buildings continue to allow STR. It's always best to have a backup plan in these situations. However, LTRs typically don't cash flow in STRs. What are your thoughts there?
0 Reply
Luka Milicevic
Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
4y
Top places I recommend:
Anywhere in TN
Anywhere in TX
Anywhere in FL
Charleston, SC
Boise, ID
Anywhere in AZ
Top places to Avoid:
Anywhere in CA
Anywhere in NY
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
Seattle, OR
1 Reply
Sergey A. Petrov
Real Estate Consultant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 784 votes
4y
@Michael Smythies - in WA, 90% owner vote is required to alter rental restrictions (there are some caveats to that depending on what is in the existing governing docs). There are some that say they "ban" STR but really aren't because they are not allowed to (their attorney told them not to, they said they'll do it anyways but do nothing about it). That, on its own, turns many people off because they don't know what they are looking at and assume that if there is a sentence somewhere that says "no STR" it is actually valid (or enforced).
1 Reply
Eliott Elias
Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2021 · 9k+ posts · 5k+ votes
4y
Austin Texas, everyone is moving here. Come check us out
0 Reply
Tchaka Owen
Real Estate Agent · Merritt Island, FL · Member since 2017 · 986 posts · 1k+ votes
4y
@Sebastian Warg writes, "I also want to have kinda nice weather since Sweden is like living in a refrigerator" yet people are recommending Ohio. Really? Are you looking out for him or for yourselves?

Sebastian, you're going to want to look at the mid-Atlantic, ie, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina...maybe across parts of Georgia. Perhaps Arkansas. North gets cold, ie, Sweden. South where I am (Florida) is hotter than most like. Same can be said for parts of Texas and Arizona.
Something to think about: the Swedish "socialism" is more of a safety net as opposed to true socialism, which is why Scandinavians are amongst the happiest people in the world. My numerous friends in Sweden have never complained. So be aware. And good luck!
2 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Tchaka Owen:

@Sebastian Warg writes, "I also want to have kinda nice weather since Sweden is like living in a refrigerator" yet people are recommending Ohio. Really? Are you looking out for him or for yourselves?

Sebastian, you're going to want to look at the mid-Atlantic, ie, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina...maybe across parts of Georgia. Perhaps Arkansas. North gets cold, ie, Sweden. South where I am (Florida) is hotter than most like. Same can be said for parts of Texas and Arizona.
Something to think about: the Swedish "socialism" is more of a safety net as opposed to true socialism, which is why Scandinavians are amongst the happiest people in the world. My numerous friends in Sweden have never complained. So be aware. And good luck!

If you've spent any time in Sweden, you'll know that Ohio has a far more temperate clime.

Re Socialism - that's just your opinion. They are actually a Socialist Democracy, (meaning that they get to vote for which Socialist takes their money :-) but one thing is sure...taxes are sky high - 62% of personal income. Their attempt to take on true Socialism failed miserably in the '70s and '80s.

2 Reply
Tchaka Owen
Real Estate Agent · Merritt Island, FL · Member since 2017 · 986 posts · 1k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

If you've spent any time in Sweden, you'll know that Ohio has a far more temperate clime.

Re Socialism - that's just your opinion. They are actually a Socialist Democracy, (meaning that they get to vote for which Socialist takes their money :-) but one thing is sure...taxes are sky high - 62% of personal income. Their attempt to take on true Socialism failed miserably in the '70s and '80s.

Thank you for your input. My degree in Foreign Affairs says that Sweden isn't actually a Socialist Democracy. As mentioned earlier, there's a social net for the people, however it has a strong business culture that's much more in line with our market system. Their top tax rate (which isn't as high as 62%) is actually marginal; most citizens pay an income tax rate closer to 30%. Check yearly climates of Stockholm and Malmo next to Cleveland and Columbus - they're not far apart. Lastly, Scandinavians being amongst the happiest isn't my opinion. It's the results of perennial research.
1 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Tchaka Owen:

Congrats on the degree. You do your numbers, I'll do mine. And if you dig into the 'happiness quotient' you'll see the reason. Just let the poor Swedish dude come here and buy RE without throwing your politics out there....
Peace, bro....
2 Reply
James Wise
Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 31k+ posts · 20k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Tchaka Owen:

Congrats on the degree. You do your numbers, I'll do mine. And if you dig into the 'happiness quotient' you'll see the reason. Just let the poor Swedish dude come here and buy RE without throwing your politics out there....
Peace, bro....

We've got a dude in Sweden who is being told what Sweden is like by a dude who read about Sweden in a book on a college campus in the US. This debate isn't going to go anywhere folks. Moving on.
5 Reply
Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
4y
Quote from @James Wise:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Tchaka Owen:

Congrats on the degree. You do your numbers, I'll do mine. And if you dig into the 'happiness quotient' you'll see the reason. Just let the poor Swedish dude come here and buy RE without throwing your politics out there....
Peace, bro....

We've got a dude in Sweden who is being told what Sweden is like by a dude who read about Sweden in a book on a college campus in the US. This debate isn't going to go anywhere folks. Moving on.

all I know or remember about Sweden is being in the SF airport and watching a flight crew come through from Martin air I believe and a collection of more beautiful flight attendants I have never seen before or since.. Stunning.
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2 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
4y
Quote from @Jay Hinrichs:

all I know or remember about Sweden is being in the SF airport and watching a flight crew come through from Martin air I believe and a collection of more beautiful flight attendants I have never seen before or since.. Stunning.

Yep, Scandinavian women are all that. Spent some time over there, have family in all those countries.
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