All Forum Posts by: Candace Hughes

Welcome, Jr! Glad to have you here. Exciting times as you go after your first multifamily,  that’s a huge step. Wishing you the best on your first offer, and looking forward to seeing you around the community!

Thanks for sharing this, Hunter! I’ve heard of sober living homes here in Indy, as well as housing options for special-needs adults who can live on their own but still need some oversight. I haven’t personally invested in that space yet, but I can definitely see the demand and the positive community impact. It’s interesting to hear how stable and structured the model can be. I’d love to learn more about the process and what it looks like from an investor’s perspective.

Welcome! Starting with a house hack is such a solid move. I’m also learning and connecting with other investors, and it really helps having people to bounce ideas off of. Excited to see how your journey goes!

@Jordan Frisco 

Exactly Jordan, that’s a solid plan. Cash flow fueling growth and trading up into stronger rentals is how you build long-term wealth. You’re definitely on the right track.

Congrats on taking action and setting clear strategies — that’s already a big win. Your options all have potential, but what stands out is that you’re thinking about both cash flow and long-term growth. Just make sure to keep plenty of reserves, especially if you’re balancing flips with rentals, since timelines and budgets almost always stretch. I’d say your “light cosmetic flip + add a rental each year” path feels like a solid balance between cash and stability. Wishing you success as you get started!

Hi Jared, welcome to the investing journey! A lot of this depends on your long-term goals, but you’re on the right track thinking about a base of cash-flowing single-family rentals. They’re generally easier to finance, manage, and exit from if you ever need to sell.

What I've seen work well for rookies is to start with 1–2 solid SFH rentals in stable, working-class neighborhoods. This helps you get familiar with tenant management, cash flow, and maintenance without being overwhelmed. Once you have that system down, consider small multis such as duplexes or four-plexes for economies of scale and stronger cash flow. Short-term rentals can be great, but they require more active management and regulations vary by market, so I usually suggest layering those in later once you have steady long-term income.

The key is to grow in a way that keeps you comfortable and solvent while still moving toward your bigger 3–5 year goal.

If you’re looking at the Indianapolis area, I work locally as boots-on-the-ground project management, helping out-of-state investors oversee rehabs, contractors, and timelines. Happy to share what I’ve seen trending here if it would help.

Hi Lior, great questions. Tuxedo Park has definitely been drawing more investor attention lately. From what I’ve seen, tenant quality really depends on how selective you are with screening — there are plenty of reliable renters, but you want to be thorough on background checks and income verification.

Turnover has been moderate; some investors see solid 2–3 year stays, while others deal with quicker turnarounds if they don’t stay on top of property management. The neighborhood itself is showing signs of improvement, with more rehabs and investor activity, though it’s still block-by-block in terms of stability.

For a typical 3/2, I’ve seen rents in the $1,100–$1,400 range depending on finishes, updates, and exact location. Updated homes on stronger blocks trend higher and rent faster.

If you’re managing from out of state, having someone local to keep an eye on quality control and tenant relations is really valuable in areas like this.

Hope that helps!

Hi Seth,

I’m based in Indianapolis but I follow Northwest Indiana closely and do project management on rehab projects across the state.

Gary still has a lot of affordable inventory in that $30k–$120k range. Median sales are hovering around the $130s and trending up, so there's room for both BRRRR and flips if you keep rehab scopes realistic. The city has been putting energy into airport expansion and some hospitality projects, which should help bring more jobs.

Hammond has been heating up with prices moving past $200k and selling faster than last year. The new West Lake commuter rail line is on track to open next year, which will connect more directly to Chicago and should keep demand strong. There’s also a big push with redevelopment and new builds coming online.

East Chicago is more of a value play. Prices are around the $140k mark and a little softer, but homes are still competitive with multiple offers. The city has been adding new affordable housing and investing in neighborhoods, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Overall, the Double Track rail project is making all of NW Indiana more attractive to Chicago commuters, which is good news if you’re holding or flipping near those lines. From what I’ve seen, quick cosmetic flips and BRRRRs with tight budgets work best here, especially if you’ve got reliable contractors.

Happy to connect and compare notes if you want to dig deeper into sub-markets.

Hi Chris,

Welcome to BiggerPockets and thank you for your service. I am based in Indianapolis, Indiana and focus on project management for rehab projects, so I work with a lot of investors who pursue BRRRR strategies.

Indiana is a landlord-friendly state with affordable housing stock and solid rental demand. In Indianapolis you'll find strong job growth and a large tenant pool, and in nearby cities like Anderson or Muncie you can still find properties in the $80k–125k range that work for BRRRR if you budget carefully for CapEx.

From what I’ve seen, team building is the most important piece for out-of-state investors. A good agent and lender matter, but having reliable boots on the ground to oversee contractors, verify scopes of work, and keep timelines on track is often what makes or breaks a project.

The biggest mistakes I see new investors make are underestimating rehab costs, not confirming rental comps with property managers, and overlooking local rules like rental registrations or inspections. Getting those right up front saves a lot of headaches.

If Indiana is a market you are open to, I would be happy to connect and share more insight.

Great post, Jorge. I can definitely relate. I’ve found that it’s less about trying to find the “perfect” contractor and more about having systems in place to manage whoever is on the job. In my experience doing project management on rehab projects here in Indiana, keeping a clear scope of work, paying in structured draws, and checking in consistently on-site makes a huge difference.

I’ve also seen that when you set the tone early with expectations on timelines and communication, most contractors will either rise to the standard or weed themselves out quickly. Having backups ready is key too, especially in smaller markets.

I’m based in Indianapolis and oversee projects for investors, so if anyone is ever looking for boots on the ground here, I’m always open to connecting.