New out-of-state investor looking to invest in Columbus, OH

[Nhi Ly]

Hello BiggerPockets Community! My name is Nhi, and I'm based in San Jose, CA. I'm excited to be here and connect with like-minded individuals who are on the same real estate journey!

I’m currently in the process of looking to purchase my first rental property, and after some research, I’ve set my sights on Columbus, Ohio. I’m particularly interested in student rentals and plan to rent by the room, as I think there’s a solid demand for that type of housing.

I’m hoping to close on a property within the next 6 months, so I’m actively gathering information, building a strategy, and looking for guidance. One thing I’ve been wondering about is whether it’s realistic to self-manage my property remotely, especially since I’m located in California. I’m also wondering if it’s possible to find someone local who can be available for emergency situations if needed—any tips or experiences with managing remotely would be greatly appreciated!

I’ve been following this forum for a while and love the wealth of knowledge and support here. I’m looking forward to learning more from all of you and hopefully sharing my experiences as I move forward with my first rental property!

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to connecting with you all! 😊

[Nicholas L.]

@Nhi Ly

hello and welcome.  are you able to go to Columbus in person to try to meet people, see properties, and build your network?  if you are not able to do this, I think OOS investing is high risk.  others may chime in and say "of course it's possible." and of course... it IS possible, as many people do it.  but, that doesn't mean it is without risk.

unfortunately, we see CA investors who look on Zillow, or get a recommendation from an agent, without knowledge of the local area or the right team in place, and almost always without proper expectations for how much money they're going to spend, and it seems to set them backward:

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1242392-rough...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-balti...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/432/topics/1231840-sell...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/840134-memph...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/963/topics/1195280-expe...

so - see what you think of those threads.  and to answer your specific question - a strong local PM is just much more likely to be able to provide better service than you can, especially since you're new.

i hope this helps.  i'd be happy to connect directly to answer any questions you have.  i have nothing to sell and try to present a realistic picture of how difficult the current market is to save new folks from going through what the people in those threads did.