Any experianced Realtor and Investor in Dayton Ohio?
Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 9 votes
Any experianced Realtor and Investor in Dayton Ohio?
Most Popular Reply
Kerlous TadresBusiness Member
Realtor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes@Ruimin Megan Guo, I'd lean toward Dayton personally since the price-to-rent ratios are strong and the tenant pool is steady, working-class, which is exactly what you want starting out. Happy to connect you with a PM team in the Ohio market if you want to shoot me a message.
Kerlous Tadres | Reafco Real Estate539 Reviews
9 Replies
- 4moArman AhmedPro MemberReal Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 915 votes
Quote from @Ruimin Megan Guo:
Hello BP Community, I am a new member from CA and have been reading and listening to BP Podcast on and off for a couple of years now and finally decided to take the leap and start my first out of state rental investment. I have narrowed down to below but are open to other suggestion as well:
1-Dayton (maybe Westside of Cleveland); Oh
2-Birmingham Al,
3- Kansa City
My goal is to keep my invest under 60K and mainly wanted to focus on SFH 3/2 or small duplex in a blue collar working (c+ to B class) neighborhood ; I don't think I am ready for BRRR method just yet but I am not against it if I can build a trusted team in the area. I want to focus on positive cash flow with some level of appreciation in 3-5 years. Does anyone invest in this area and might have a trust realtor or property managing team that they can connect me with?
Are there any investors that are familiarly with these area? how is the section 8 rental market vs private market rent?
Do you suggest any other area ?
Thank you so much in advance
You’re actually looking in the right types of markets for a first out-of-state rental because cash flow is still possible without needing massive appreciation to bail out the deal. Dayton and parts of Cleveland can work well if you stay disciplined on neighborhood selection and property management, especially in blue-collar areas with stable rental demand. Within your budget, the biggest thing is having a strong local team because one bad contractor or PM can wipe out your margins fast. Section 8 can work very well in parts of Ohio too, but it really comes down to buying in the right pocket and underwriting maintenance realistically. I’d focus less on chasing the absolute cheapest property and more on finding stable working-class neighborhoods where tenants actually want to stay long term. - Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 9 votes4mo
You are Absolutely right Arman. That is the reason why I am primarily looking into c+ to B class blue collar working neighborhoods. Do you have any suggestions on which neighborhoods I should look into in Ohio? Are you open to work with an out of state investor or do you have any recommendations for an agent or PM!
- 4moJimmy LieuBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
Quote from @Ruimin Megan Guo:
Hello BP Community, I am a new member from CA and have been reading and listening to BP Podcast on and off for a couple of years now and finally decided to take the leap and start my first out of state rental investment. I have narrowed down to below but are open to other suggestion as well:
1-Dayton (maybe Westside of Cleveland); Oh
2-Birmingham Al,
3- Kansa City
My goal is to keep my invest under 60K and mainly wanted to focus on SFH 3/2 or small duplex in a blue collar working (c+ to B class) neighborhood ; I don't think I am ready for BRRR method just yet but I am not against it if I can build a trusted team in the area. I want to focus on positive cash flow with some level of appreciation in 3-5 years. Does anyone invest in this area and might have a trust realtor or property managing team that they can connect me with?
Are there any investors that are familiarly with these area? how is the section 8 rental market vs private market rent?
Do you suggest any other area ?
Thank you so much in advance
Hey Ruimin, welcome to BP, good to see you jumping in with a clear budget and criteria because that already puts you ahead of a lot of first timers. On the markets you listed, Dayton and parts of Cleveland are usually the closest fit if you’re truly trying to stay under $60K and still get decent cash flow, but just know at that price point you’re often dealing with older housing stock and higher maintenance, so the numbers can look good on paper but the property condition and tenant quality really matter. Birmingham and Kansas City can work too, but KC especially tends to drift higher in price depending on the neighborhood, and section 8 vs private rent really just comes down to your property and area, since voucher tenants can be stable but you’re still dependent on inspections, payment standards, and local housing authority processes, so it’s not automatically “better,” just different. If I zoom out a bit, one market I always tell newer investors to at least study is Columbus, Ohio even though it may be a little above your current budget range, because the macro story here is strong with population growth, steady job growth, and major companies moving in like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, and others, plus Ohio State driving constant rental demand. We still see deals in the broader metro that can hit strong cash flow and the 1% rule in the right pockets, usually more in the $120K–$180K range, but the tradeoff is you’re getting a more stable long-term appreciation market with less tenant risk than some ultra cheap areas. If your goal is building something you can scale and hold long term, it might be worth either saving a bit more capital or starting where you are and then rolling equity into a market like Columbus later. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!
Jimmy Lieu, Red 1 Realty4.9120 Reviews- Member since 2026 · 3 posts · 9 votes4mo
Quote from @Jimmy Lieu:
Quote from @Ruimin Megan Guo:
Hello BP Community, I am a new member from CA and have been reading and listening to BP Podcast on and off for a couple of years now and finally decided to take the leap and start my first out of state rental investment. I have narrowed down to below but are open to other suggestion as well:
1-Dayton (maybe Westside of Cleveland); Oh
2-Birmingham Al,
3- Kansa City
My goal is to keep my invest under 60K and mainly wanted to focus on SFH 3/2 or small duplex in a blue collar working (c+ to B class) neighborhood ; I don't think I am ready for BRRR method just yet but I am not against it if I can build a trusted team in the area. I want to focus on positive cash flow with some level of appreciation in 3-5 years. Does anyone invest in this area and might have a trust realtor or property managing team that they can connect me with?
Are there any investors that are familiarly with these area? how is the section 8 rental market vs private market rent?
Do you suggest any other area ?
Thank you so much in advance
Hey Ruimin, welcome to BP, good to see you jumping in with a clear budget and criteria because that already puts you ahead of a lot of first timers. On the markets you listed, Dayton and parts of Cleveland are usually the closest fit if you’re truly trying to stay under $60K and still get decent cash flow, but just know at that price point you’re often dealing with older housing stock and higher maintenance, so the numbers can look good on paper but the property condition and tenant quality really matter. Birmingham and Kansas City can work too, but KC especially tends to drift higher in price depending on the neighborhood, and section 8 vs private rent really just comes down to your property and area, since voucher tenants can be stable but you’re still dependent on inspections, payment standards, and local housing authority processes, so it’s not automatically “better,” just different. If I zoom out a bit, one market I always tell newer investors to at least study is Columbus, Ohio even though it may be a little above your current budget range, because the macro story here is strong with population growth, steady job growth, and major companies moving in like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, and others, plus Ohio State driving constant rental demand. We still see deals in the broader metro that can hit strong cash flow and the 1% rule in the right pockets, usually more in the $120K–$180K range, but the tradeoff is you’re getting a more stable long-term appreciation market with less tenant risk than some ultra cheap areas. If your goal is building something you can scale and hold long term, it might be worth either saving a bit more capital or starting where you are and then rolling equity into a market like Columbus later. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!Hi Jimmy, Thank you for the great info. I am very much interested in connect with you for any potential deal. I am open to look at other market as well and not limit myself in the ultra cheap properties because I understand the risk and tenant pool that I am getting into. I am open to SFH under $150,000 or Duplex under $250,000 in a good nationhood. What is the best way to connect with you?
- 4moKerlous TadresBusiness MemberRealtor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
@Ruimin Megan Guo, I'd lean toward Dayton personally since the price-to-rent ratios are strong and the tenant pool is steady, working-class, which is exactly what you want starting out. Happy to connect you with a PM team in the Ohio market if you want to shoot me a message.
Kerlous Tadres | Reafco Real Estate539 Reviews - 4moSam McCormackBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Cincinnati, OH/NKY · Member since 2021 · 1k+ posts · 833 votes
Quote from @Ruimin Megan Guo:
Hello BP Community, I am a new member from CA and have been reading and listening to BP Podcast on and off for a couple of years now and finally decided to take the leap and start my first out of state rental investment. I have narrowed down to below but are open to other suggestion as well:
1-Dayton (maybe Westside of Cleveland); Oh
2-Birmingham Al,
3- Kansa City
My goal is to keep my invest under 60K and mainly wanted to focus on SFH 3/2 or small duplex in a blue collar working (c+ to B class) neighborhood ; I don't think I am ready for BRRR method just yet but I am not against it if I can build a trusted team in the area. I want to focus on positive cash flow with some level of appreciation in 3-5 years. Does anyone invest in this area and might have a trust realtor or property managing team that they can connect me with?
Are there any investors that are familiarly with these area? how is the section 8 rental market vs private market rent?
Do you suggest any other area ?
Thank you so much in advance
YES FIND A GOOD AGENT FOR DAYTON. I have a few clients who have bought it Dayton, and they realized they bought something in the ghetto, lol. I am in Cincinnati, just south of Dayton, and I have agent contacts in Dayton, OH so let me know and I will connect you
Sam McCormack Realtor- Real Estate Agent · Dayton, OH · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 1 vote1mo
Quote from @Sam McCormack:
Quote from @Ruimin Megan Guo:
Hello BP Community, I am a new member from CA and have been reading and listening to BP Podcast on and off for a couple of years now and finally decided to take the leap and start my first out of state rental investment. I have narrowed down to below but are open to other suggestion as well:
1-Dayton (maybe Westside of Cleveland); Oh
2-Birmingham Al,
3- Kansa City
My goal is to keep my invest under 60K and mainly wanted to focus on SFH 3/2 or small duplex in a blue collar working (c+ to B class) neighborhood ; I don't think I am ready for BRRR method just yet but I am not against it if I can build a trusted team in the area. I want to focus on positive cash flow with some level of appreciation in 3-5 years. Does anyone invest in this area and might have a trust realtor or property managing team that they can connect me with?
Are there any investors that are familiarly with these area? how is the section 8 rental market vs private market rent?
Do you suggest any other area ?
Thank you so much in advance
YES FIND A GOOD AGENT FOR DAYTON. I have a few clients who have bought it Dayton, and they realized they bought something in the ghetto, lol. I am in Cincinnati, just south of Dayton, and I have agent contacts in Dayton, OH so let me know and I will connect you
I am an agent in Dayton and also an investor, there are definitely areas in Dayton I would NOT buy in (I've lived in the area over 40 years). Let me know if you still need help with boots on the ground!
- 4moAlfath AhmedBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
Quote from @Ruimin Megan Guo:
Hello BP Community, I am a new member from CA and have been reading and listening to BP Podcast on and off for a couple of years now and finally decided to take the leap and start my first out of state rental investment. I have narrowed down to below but are open to other suggestion as well:
1-Dayton (maybe Westside of Cleveland); Oh
2-Birmingham Al,
3- Kansa City
My goal is to keep my invest under 60K and mainly wanted to focus on SFH 3/2 or small duplex in a blue collar working (c+ to B class) neighborhood ; I don't think I am ready for BRRR method just yet but I am not against it if I can build a trusted team in the area. I want to focus on positive cash flow with some level of appreciation in 3-5 years. Does anyone invest in this area and might have a trust realtor or property managing team that they can connect me with?
Are there any investors that are familiarly with these area? how is the section 8 rental market vs private market rent?
Do you suggest any other area ?
Thank you so much in advance
I own student housing in dayton and it does very well. I don't recommend buying properties that cheap. Standard BRRRR deals for SFH are around $75k to $85k in good areas and over $110k to $120k for duplex deals.
Section-8 is okay but don't rely on it like the guru's in social media like "seciton 8 kareem" mentions. Do your due diligence and connect with a good agent.
ReafCo | Ahmed Group 55 Reviews - 4moSamuel DioufBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Columbus & Cleveland, OH · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
Would be glad to connect.
Reafco - Samuel Diouf528 Reviews
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