All Forum Posts by: Brooke Roundy

My cats destroyed my faux leather chairs, but in 4 years have not destroyed my fabric couch despite occasional scratching. It’s a fabric with a tight weave that doesn’t come loose from Harvest, which is admittedly fairly expensive. Maybe you could find a lower cost couch with a tight weave. I like the idea of also providing a scratching post and a carpet they can scratch on that’s inexpensive to replace. Best of luck!

I've been lightly following them for years, I did not invest in property yet thankfully but now I'll avoid them. 

Hi Nicholas, maybe you need to find a different real estate strategy that appeals more to you. I personally enjoy hosting guests for short and midterm stays more than being a passive investor acquiring rentals with long term tenants. I occasionally (like today) wonder if I'm really cut out for this as challenges and obstacles appear. I think, maybe I can make more money and have less hassle investing elsewhere or sticking with my boring W-2. But then what brings me back is the creativity of real estate, the vast possibilities to build wealth and my own business where I answer to me. I'd suggest maybe widening your lens on what kind of real estate strategy might make sense for your personality and style, and pivoting. There are so many possibilities. Good luck!

@Mike Paolucci thanks for your comment and I'd love to connect. 

@Drew Sygit thanks Drew! This is a good idea. And I appreciate your note of caution to pursue my own due diligence. 

@Travis Biziorek Hi Travis, thank you for sharing your story! You literally did what I've been contemplating doing. It makes so much sense. I also would return to California after building a portfolio in the Cleveland area. House hacking and building the business, getting a strong financial foundation. I have strong relationships there (friends) and a trusted co-host/manager for my Airbnb who I can rely on.  And I'm obsessed with the neighborhoods I target, I've just never taken that next step in part because I don't live there. Sounds like I need to start developing that pipeline whether I live there or not. I really appreciate your guidance, thanks again. 

@Kerlous Tadres thank you! I do want to connect with more investor friendly agents and PMs who are experts in several neighborhoods I'm very focused on. As noted above, I hadn't considered wholesalers. I think I've been complacent. So much to learn.

@Scott Brockelbank Jr. thank you! This is great information. I hadn't thought of leveraging wholesalers. I see now. Would I be pulling lists to send to people in the neighborhoods I'm interested in? 

I look at the West side all the time and I often see SFH that need renovation in this area. I'm personally very interested in the area just around metro health in Clark Fulton and just south in Brooklyn Centre because of the demand for MTR around the hospital. You could renovate and rent MTR to nurses. It's double LTR rents. But I've also read Slavic Village is very favorable for your specific strategy.

Hello BP Community! I am a new-ish real estate investor (on and off BP but finally ready to connect with this awesome community) with one 4-unit property out of state in Cleveland, Ohio purchased in 2021 that has a cash-on-cash return over 30% with the changes I've made (rent increases, conversion LTRs to STR/MTR). I did this with minimal knowledge so there was a large dose of luck and timing, lots of hard work.

 I live in one of the highest cost markets in the nation, and recently lost insurance coverage and now have the California FAIR plan (yay). For that and a few other reasons we are selling. Likely to remain here and rent (reducing our housing costs by 50%!) but I've strongly considered moving to Cleveland and house hack for a year, the book almost writes itself, but it's difficult moving middle school kids around for RE dreams.

I plan to take the equity and purchase more properties in northeast Ohio focusing on MTR/STR strategy, but I've had my eye on other areas great for MTR sticking with that strategy. I have a realtor and have a strong addiction to MLS listings, but I keep reading about finding great deals off-market and I've been learning more about "creative" real estate. What are some great ways to find the juicy off-market deals? Networking I know is key and I need more of that, is that really the secret?

Like many here, I love real estate investing and while I'm sad to sell my primary residence and go back to apartment living, I'm so excited to build my portfolio and long term wealth. 

Does anyone have a similar story? I'd love to hear about it!