Not sure where to start my investing journey

[Shrikant Kakani]

Hi All,

I have been reading a lot of books and listening to a bunch of podcasts about real estate investing and I feel like I'm ready to take the next steps. The huddle I'm facing right now is I stay in HCOL (San Francisco) where investing won't make much sense due to high property prices. Hence, I have been exploring a few LCOL/MCOL markets, but I am not sure where to invest. Thus, I decided that out-of-state investing would make the most sense. Here's my research:

- I have been exploring Ohio and Texas, but the property taxes are extremely high and there will hardly be any cash flow. The same issue lies with Chicago as well.

- Then I checked out the Detroit market and realized that the job and population growth has declined in the past few years and landlords are finding it hard to fill the vacancies.

- Lastly, I checked out the Colorado market (especially Colorado and Colorado Springs), and the property prices are high there and hence, it won't cash flow there either.

Hence, while I want to begin my journey, I am not sure where to start. Maybe I'm overthinking? But being a rookie investor, I'm terrified and need help exploring the path to success. All inputs are welcome.

Thanks!

[Drew Sygit]

@Shrikant Kakani anything that cashflows right now, will come with risk.

Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.

If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.

So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

Here’s our OPINION for the Metro Detroit market (use as a template for your target area!) that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases.:

Class A Properties:
Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.
Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.
Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+, zero evictions in last 7 years.

Class B Properties:
Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.
Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.
Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680, some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 years

Class C Properties:
Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation. Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.
Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.
Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620, many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years. Verifying last 2 years of rental history very important! Also, focus on 2 years of job/income stability.

Class D Properties:
Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with little, maybe even negative, relative rent & value appreciation
Vacancy Est: 20%+ should be used to cover nonpayment, evictions & damages.
Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores under 560, little to no good tradelines, lots of collections & chargeoffs, recent evictions. Verifying last 2 years of rental history and income extremely important to find the “best of the worst”.

Make sure you understand the Class of properties you are looking at and the corresponding results to expect.

PM us if you’d like to discuss this logical approach in greater detail!