Real Estate Investing Forums

What Number Do You Trust Most When Evaluating a Rental?
Real Estate News & Current Events
What Number Do You Trust Most When Evaluating a Rental?

Every investor seems to have a different number they focus on first when analyzing a rental property. Some look at cash flow, while others focus on cash-on-cash return, cap rate, equity, or purchase price compared with market value. I’m curious which number you find most useful during the initial...

Offseason: midterm rental vs STR?
Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions
Hampstead, North Carolina
Offseason: midterm rental vs STR?

Beginning a furnished rental in Hampstead, NC that will be ready approximately mid-October. 2-bed/2-bath currently sleeps 4 but could push to 6-8 if better optimized that way. It's a small stand-alone newly renovated home across the road from the intercoastal waterway but currently with no water ...

Allow a buyer to list your rental?
General Real Estate Investing
Venice, Florida
Allow a buyer to list your rental?

In Florida (or anywhere) - Would you allow a prospective buyer to market one of your vacant units (in a multifamily) 1 month before they are to close on your property? If yes, would you allow them to show it during this time? What about advertising while not clearly stating they are the buyer and...

Loaning on Off-Grid?
Mortgage Brokers & Lenders
Loaning on Off-Grid?

I have an Off-Grid property that is currently for sale. It is also unpermitted, so I figured on selling it for cash only....but of course the first showing is asking if I will carry paper. Due to various reasons I would prefer not to, so I'm wondering if there is any financing available for these...

2026 Mortgage Rate & Payment Benchmarks: What the Data Says for Investors
Market Trends & Data
Laguna Niguel, California
2026 Mortgage Rate & Payment Benchmarks: What the Data Says for Investors

I've been tracking the Freddie Mac PMMS data and MBA application shares for 2026, and I wanted to share a clean snapshot with the BiggerPockets community. **Current Market Data (24 Sep 2026):** • 30-Year Fixed: 7.03% • 15-Year Fixed: 6.42% • Refinance Share: 39.3% • ARM Share: 9.8% • FHA Share: 1...

What numbers do you look at first when analyzing a rental property?
Buying & Selling Real Estate
Los Angeles, California
What numbers do you look at first when analyzing a rental property?

I’m curious how other investors approach the initial analysis of a rental property. When you first look at a potential rental, which numbers do you check before going deeper into the deal? For me, the main areas seem to be purchase price, expected rental income, operating expenses, vacancy, maint...

Title: Self-managing landlords: what's your biggest maintenance headache? (poll + res
Managing Your Property
Title: Self-managing landlords: what's your biggest maintenance headache? (poll + res

I'm self managing 5 rental properties and one of my most time-consuming task is handling comminications between tenants. I have a 9-5 so I'm always juggling from scheduling repairs, or going back and forth with tenants. I'm curios if you guys having the same expeience and if you u are using a som...

Poll
1st Post! Toledo OH?
Buying & Selling Real Estate
Toledo, Ohio
1st Post! Toledo OH?

Hey everyone, first post here! I'm based in Austin, TX and just starting to look at out-of-state buy-and-hold rentals — single family and small multifamily, budget around $100-150K per property. Plan is to self-manage my first couple of properties before bringing in a PM once I scale up. Toledo k...

Is 70k enough to get started ?
Buying & Selling Real Estate
Chicago/Skokie, Illinois
Is 70k enough to get started ?

I have about 80k in equity in a condo and wondered if it is enough to get started on a flip. I would need to sell my current home and rent for the time being but I would have 70k cash.

Poll
Roofing replacing tim
General Landlording & Rental Properties
Roofing replacing tim

Ok its time to replace roofs on 2 of my properties! Who has used GAF for measurements? How accurate are they? Im and out of state investor who self manages and trying to get the material pricing for purchasing to be picked up by contractor. Or any recommendations on another way?

Struggling with lack of transparency from property managers
Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions
Pensacola, Florida
Struggling with lack of transparency from property managers

Struggling with lack of transparency from property managers, is this the industry standard? I have recently hired new property management companies for my short term rentals, Avari in Navarre, Florida, and another firm in OKC, but I am already deeply unhappy with both. Having self managed my prop...

Picking the right out of state market
Out of State Investing
Indianapolis, Indiana
Picking the right out of state market

Hi All, I currently have a couple LTR properties in South Florida. Due to the high cost here I am looking to start investing in the midwest, specifically the Indiana area. Ideally I am looking for a duplex, triplex, or quad plex to invest in. What are some helpful tips on establishing a trustwort...

Looking for investors with experience in Wyandotte County, KS — especially “Unfit to
Investor Mindset
Kansas City, Kansas
Looking for investors with experience in Wyandotte County, KS — especially “Unfit to

I’m looking at buying a property in Kansas City, KS that is very close to my personal residence. The property is also directly adjacent to me, and the land actually butts up against my property, which is a big part of why I’m interested in this particular one. Im almost certain the house fire end...

Industrial loft conversion funder meeting question
Buying & Selling Real Estate
Industrial loft conversion funder meeting question

I’m currently putting together a deal to buy an old industrial building and convert it to four loft apartments. It’s going to require some capital to make it happen, and the architect I found for the project collaborated with me on a budget of 1.1 million dollars in cap ex. I’m planning to move i...

Buying in an Expensive Market
Buying & Selling Real Estate
Boca Raton, Florida
Buying in an Expensive Market

HI All, My name is Michelle and I have a couple LTR in South Florida. As many of you know this market is getting more and more experience. What are some creative ways to invest in a market that is "expensive"?

Investing before the permit: would you, if refunds were guaranteed?
Investor Mindset
Investing before the permit: would you, if refunds were guaranteed?

Hey BP long time no see , I'm 18 and I've been working on an idea for two years. I'd love feedback from people who actually invest in real estate, because you'll see the holes faster than anyone. The idea is called Votely. Instead of investing in a whole company or a whole fund, you back one spec...

Poll
56 years old.....am I too late
General Real Estate Investing
Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania
56 years old.....am I too late

Im a 56 year old single woman who wanted to invest in real estate since I was in my 20's. Are banks going to give me a hard time aquiring mortgages? I want to do single home/2-3 unit rentals.

Poll
HELOC'S, are they worth considering?
Creative Real Estate Financing
HELOC'S, are they worth considering?

Investors come in different sizes and levels of experience, from small or newbies to seasoned investors. And just like and tradesmen, experience often means knowing which tool to use, and when to use it. That brings me to HELOC's. "Are you using your HELOC as the whole solution-or one piece of th...

What's Your Plan for the Tax Bomb Hiding in Your Rental Portfolio?
General Real Estate Investing
Seattle, Washington
What's Your Plan for the Tax Bomb Hiding in Your Rental Portfolio?

Many investors spend years focusing on cash flow, appreciation, and debt paydown. Then they sell and discover depreciation recapture and capital gains taxes can take a significant bite out of their profits. For those with larger portfolios: What's your exit strategy? 1031 forever? Sell selectivel...

What’s one real estate move you still want to make before the year ends?
General Real Estate Investing
What’s one real estate move you still want to make before the year ends?

Buy another property? Sell one? Refinance? Or finally get your books and tax plan in order? With the final quarter coming up, the timing of a move can matter just as much as the move itself. What’s at the top of your list before December 31? And have you checked the tax impact yet?

Back from the Smokies: What I Saw
Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions
Back from the Smokies: What I Saw

Spent a week in the Smokies, looking at properties, meeting with my team, visiting with merchants. Without exception, merchants say business has been down in 2026. The Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg is the ultimate bellwether, because they are busy regardless. But not as much in 2026, and the waitr...

HELOC on a Rental
Private Lending & Conventional Mortgage Advice
HELOC on a Rental

Hi all, I currently live in Massachusetts, and I have a multifamily rental property in Pennsylvania that has built up a significant amount of equity. The current mortgage balance is approximately $170K, and the property is worth around $415K. I’ve been trying to find a lender or product that woul...

Current deal- looking for lenders who are comfortable with 20% seller financing in2nd
Creative Real Estate Financing
Current deal- looking for lenders who are comfortable with 20% seller financing in2nd

Hello, I'm purchasing a FSBO, $485k purchase price in florida, single family, investment loan. Seller is fine being in second position to the bank with a $95k note, interest only, 7 year balloon, no PPP. Current bank i'm talking with offers great rates but still wants 15% down of my own money. Lo...

My Thoughts on Helping People
Investor Mindset
My Thoughts on Helping People

"Helping business owners grow their companies means something personal to me. I still remember that frustrating plateau where you know you're capable of more but can't quite figure out how to get there. Someone once took a chance on me during those moments, and I've been committed to paying that ...

Buying 8% cap deals
Multi-Family and Apartment Investing
Buying 8% cap deals

If I wanted to buy long-term buy and hold rental properties, small or medium multifamily with 8% cap rates around Dallas, Austin, Charleston, Cincinnati, etc is that possible and how would you recommend sourcing those deals?