New Member Introduction

OP

New to Real Estate · Blacksburg, VA · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 15 votes

2mo

Thanks @Michael K Gallagher! And great Blog post on new investors! I don't think I've broken any of those rules yet! But good read for new investors.

[email protected]614-541-8475 Podcast Guest on Show My Job Laid Me Off, So I Replaced My Salary with Rentals

Remington LymanBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 7k+ votes

2mo

Quote from @Nicholas Grothouse:

Hi everyone. I'm Nicholas Grothouse. I am originally from the Dayton and Columbus area, where I worked in residential construction before graduating from Wright State and ultimately joining the Army.

Real Estate has always been of great interest to me and now that the Army has finally brought me back to the states I'm looking to reinvest in my hometown market. Although I spend countless hours a week researching real estate products and deals, I am still very new to real estate investing and looking to connect with and learn from the veterans.

Although I have connections with local handymen from my past experience, I'd be elated for all recommendations of trustworthy PMs and contractors, especially for an out of state investor who has to change zipcodes every 2-3 years.

If you're still reading this, thank you for your time and looking forward to connecting with you!

Happy to send you some referrals

Reafco512 Reviews

[email protected]614-418-6081

Arman AhmedPro Member

Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 935 votes

2mo

Quote from @Nicholas Grothouse:

Hi everyone. I'm Nicholas Grothouse. I am originally from the Dayton and Columbus area, where I worked in residential construction before graduating from Wright State and ultimately joining the Army.

Real Estate has always been of great interest to me and now that the Army has finally brought me back to the states I'm looking to reinvest in my hometown market. Although I spend countless hours a week researching real estate products and deals, I am still very new to real estate investing and looking to connect with and learn from the veterans.

Although I have connections with local handymen from my past experience, I'd be elated for all recommendations of trustworthy PMs and contractors, especially for an out of state investor who has to change zipcodes every 2-3 years.

If you're still reading this, thank you for your time and looking forward to connecting with you!

Glad to have you back in Ohio, Nicholas, and with your construction background, you’re already ahead of most new investors. Since you’re moving around every few years, I’d focus on building a strong local team first so you can stay hands-off when needed. Dayton and Columbus can both be solid places to start, and having a reliable PM plus a contractor you trust will matter just as much as the deal itself. The fact that you’re doing the research now puts you in a great position to move when the right one comes along.

[email protected]614-412-2912

Min ZhangBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

2mo

Hey Nicholas, it's great to see you here! It sounds like you've got a solid foundation with your construction background and the local connections you've built over the years. That experience can be a real advantage when evaluating properties and planning renovations.

Columbus and Dayton both have some good opportunities, and having a dependable PM and contractor network can make a big difference. I invest in Ohio as well, so if you ever want to compare notes, feel free to reach out. Wishing you the best as you get back into the market!

Reafco.512 Reviews

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[email protected]614-802-5698

Alfath AhmedBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

2mo

Quote from @Nicholas Grothouse:

Hi everyone. I'm Nicholas Grothouse. I am originally from the Dayton and Columbus area, where I worked in residential construction before graduating from Wright State and ultimately joining the Army.

Real Estate has always been of great interest to me and now that the Army has finally brought me back to the states I'm looking to reinvest in my hometown market. Although I spend countless hours a week researching real estate products and deals, I am still very new to real estate investing and looking to connect with and learn from the veterans.

Although I have connections with local handymen from my past experience, I'd be elated for all recommendations of trustworthy PMs and contractors, especially for an out of state investor who has to change zipcodes every 2-3 years.

If you're still reading this, thank you for your time and looking forward to connecting with you!

Good to connect with you @Nicholas Grothouse. I also invest here in Columbus and Dayton and own 30 units. You should look into househacking with a VA loan for your 1st deal.

I own proeprties and sell a good bit there as well.

ReafCo | Ahmed Group 536 Reviews

[email protected]614-300-7535

Jimmy LieuBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes

2mo

Quote from @Nicholas Grothouse:

Hi everyone. I'm Nicholas Grothouse. I am originally from the Dayton and Columbus area, where I worked in residential construction before graduating from Wright State and ultimately joining the Army.

Real Estate has always been of great interest to me and now that the Army has finally brought me back to the states I'm looking to reinvest in my hometown market. Although I spend countless hours a week researching real estate products and deals, I am still very new to real estate investing and looking to connect with and learn from the veterans.

Although I have connections with local handymen from my past experience, I'd be elated for all recommendations of trustworthy PMs and contractors, especially for an out of state investor who has to change zipcodes every 2-3 years.

If you're still reading this, thank you for your time and looking forward to connecting with you!

Great to have you here, Nicholas! First off, thank you for your service. It sounds like you already have a solid foundation with your construction background, which is a huge advantage when evaluating properties and estimating repairs. Since you'll be investing from out of state, I'd put extra effort into building a reliable local team, especially a property manager who communicates well and has good contractor relationships. That can make managing rentals from a distance much less stressful. Since you're already familiar with the Dayton and Columbus areas, you're in a good position to spot opportunities. Columbus in particular has been seeing strong population and job growth, with major employers like Intel, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Honda, LG, Nationwide, and Anduril continuing to invest in the region. There are still opportunities to find cash-flowing properties at reasonable price points if you're patient. Wishing you the best as you get back into your home market, and thanks again for your service. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Jimmy Lieu, Red 1 Realty4.9120 Reviews

Chris Formica

Property Manager · CA · Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 1 vote

2mo

Welcome to BiggerPockets, Nicholas! And thank you for your service.

I’m out in Southern California, so I can’t recommend anyone in Ohio personally, but I’m sure there are some great folks in this community who can point you in the right direction. Wishing you the best as you get back into your hometown market, and I look forward to following your journey!

Nicholas L.Pro Member

Flipper/Rehabber · Pittsburgh · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes

2mo

@Nicholas Grothouse

hello. can you house hack instead? I get that it's your hometown market but i'd still be extremely cautious about starting with an OOS property.

the market is challenging right now.

hope this helps. happy to connect and dialogue further if you'd like.

[email protected]614-363-2787

Marc RiceBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

2mo

Quote from @Nicholas Grothouse:

Hi everyone. I'm Nicholas Grothouse. I am originally from the Dayton and Columbus area, where I worked in residential construction before graduating from Wright State and ultimately joining the Army.

Real Estate has always been of great interest to me and now that the Army has finally brought me back to the states I'm looking to reinvest in my hometown market. Although I spend countless hours a week researching real estate products and deals, I am still very new to real estate investing and looking to connect with and learn from the veterans.

Although I have connections with local handymen from my past experience, I'd be elated for all recommendations of trustworthy PMs and contractors, especially for an out of state investor who has to change zipcodes every 2-3 years.

If you're still reading this, thank you for your time and looking forward to connecting with you!

Let's connect. Happy to help!

Marc Rice | Investor Friendly Agent at Reafco Tailwind Team574 Reviews

Robert Leach

Contractor · Romeoville, IL · Member since 2015 · 198 posts · 137 votes

2mo

Welcome home Nicholas! I am a former Army guy myself there is for certain one thing most military vets have in common. We all have a spidey sense and can pick up on bs right away. Consider not wasting your VA loan on a single family low end house. Wait and use that for a 3-4 unit building investment when the numbers significantly make more of a difference. Create a bid sheet so you can walk through the house and create a SOW that makes sense for you. Check the basics, Roof, Siding, Windows, Concrete - make sure all mechanicals are accounted for in your inspection report and then a wish list of cosmetic repairs. Know what your comps are and don't over improve as you don't want to pay for being the top comp on your next deal. Hire your own trades as opposed to giving it to a GC for markup and lastly don't hand out any deposits until material and labor are onsite confirmed with time stamped video/photos. We all learn everyday but sounds like you have a basic understanding of construction. Your strength is your training and service in the Army. Use that gut feel every step of the way and you will win.

[email protected]614-490-1163

Kerlous TadresBusiness Member

Realtor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

2mo

Dayton and Columbus are both solid places to invest right now, especially with your construction background giving you a real edge on scoping rehab costs. I would recommend starting with smaller value-add properties in Columbus since the rental demand there is strong and the pool of contractors and property managers is much deeper than most mid-sized markets, which matters a lot when you are managing from out of state.

Kerlous Tadres | Reafco Real Estate540 Reviews

OP

New to Real Estate · Blacksburg, VA · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 15 votes

2mo

@Kerlous Tadres Thanks for the advice. That's probably what I need to hear. Friends / Family in Dayton probably give me a false sense of security in the Dayton Area but the Columbus area is definitely the goal. My wife and I always say that if we moved back to Ohio we'd live in Columbus.

Kerlous TadresBusiness Member
Realtor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2mo
Quote from @Nicholas Grothouse:

@Kerlous Tadres Thanks for the advice. That's probably what I need to hear. Friends / Family in Dayton probably give me a false sense of security in the Dayton Area but the Columbus area is definitely the goal. My wife and I always say that if we moved back to Ohio we'd live in Columbus.
Columbus has been growing steadily for years now, so if that's the long-term goal, you're in a good spot.
[email protected]614-490-1163
Kerlous Tadres | Reafco Real Estate540 Reviews
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OP

New to Real Estate · Blacksburg, VA · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 15 votes

2mo

@Robert Leach,

Love this advice. Always good to hear from another Army guy. I've seen GCs and contractors take advantage of their customer with my own two eyes. Something that definitely concerns me from afar.

I'll definitely keep this in mind when I purchase my first investment.

OP

New to Real Estate · Blacksburg, VA · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 15 votes

2mo

@Nicholas L.

Thanks man. I'll definitely take it into consideration. I do still make it back into the Dayton / Columbus area every other month or so to see friends / family. I figure this will be good reason to make more trips, I don't live too far from the area, but the out of state risk is definitely something on my mind.

Kyle Winblad

Investor · Dayton · Member since 2026 · 4 posts · 3 votes

2mo

Welcome, Nicholas and thanks for your service. Fellow Dayton guy here, so I'll speak to your actual question: for an out-of-state investor, your PM matters more than almost anything, since they're your eyes on the ground. When you're vetting property managers around Dayton, ask how many doors they manage, how they handle maintenance approvals and after-hours calls, and get two or three current owner references you can actually call the good local ones will hand those over without blinking. On contractors, line up at least two for anything past a cosmetic scope so you're never held hostage on timeline or price, and for a remote investor I'd lean toward crews that are comfortable sending photo/video updates.

I invest here full-time (I run Blad Boys Buy Homes, buying around the Greater Dayton area since 2018), so I've got a bench of contractors and a couple of PMs I trust and I'm happy to point you to the right people. Feel free to DM me. Always glad to help someone reinvesting back home.

[email protected]941-914-7779

Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member

CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes

2mo

Nicholas, since you're active duty and changing zip codes every 2-3 years, that's the key tax detail to sort out first, your state of legal residence for tax purposes doesn't change just because you're stationed elsewhere, but owning property in Ohio still means filing a nonresident Ohio return regardless of your home state of record.

Since you'll likely use a PM while stationed away, that matters for material participation too, self-managing versus using a PM affects whether rental losses can offset your other income, and with a PM handling things while you're elsewhere, hitting those hours gets harder. Worth knowing that going in rather than assuming losses will offset your income automatically. VA loan house hacking is also worth a look if you haven't explored it already. Thanks for your service, happy to connect!

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