All Forum Posts by: Ezekiel Ayers

Andrew gave some good suggestions. I would also recommend the RPOA meetings here in Grand Rapids. It's free to attend and you will meet a ton of great people: https://www.rpoaonline.org/

Hi Andrea, my wife and I own a Short Term Rental in West Michigan so I would be happy to answer any questions you have on how to analyze the property, what you should look for in a property and what questions to ask the county. 

I think you've received some solid advice here, and I agree with the majority of posters that $120K seems very high. Given the sentimental value of the home, you would likely be better off selling and investing elsewhere. You're right that it's getting tougher to find solid cash-flowing properties ($600 or more) in Grand Rapids, but the appreciation potential of a single-family home or duplex in Grand Rapids would be much better than that of a mobile home. This is assuming you want to keep your share in real estate and not in other investments. 

Check out Grand Rapids Michigan. The National Association of Realtors just named it one of the top 10 best markets of 2025.

Glad I could help! Yes I think estimating 5% would be a good start and then once you know the school district you can get a better idea of what to expect. Happy to look at properties or do video walk throughs. Let me know! 

Hey Dan! GR is a great market. I own a single-family home built in 1950 here that I rent out. You do need to pass inspection with the city. I bought it about 9 years ago as a primary residence, which keeps my taxes low. Winter doesn't bring too much extra cost as long as the home doesn't have outdated appliances and has sufficient insulation. There will be some extra costs if you're offering snow removal. Here are some links that might help. Happy to connect if you have any additional questions.

State of Michigan Property Tax Estimator: https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/property/estimator

Grand Rapids MI Rental Certification: https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/Programs-and-Initia...

Hey, I don't do commercial real estate but I could connect you with a person who does here in town and they might be able to help.  

My wife and I just bought our first investment property in West Michigan. What I was told time and time again is that you make your money when entering the deal. When analyzing your offer, make sure to factor in operating expenses, rehab costs, and vacancy rates. Also, try your best not to buy based on emotions (lol). It's easier said than done, but decide what you're willing to spend and stick to it. Hope this helps!

Are each of your properties held under LLCs? If not, I would consider doing that. Not only does it protect you, but it also provides the opportunity to open checking accounts for each property under its LLC, which will make tracking income and expenses much easier. I invest here in GR and am happy to connect you with our financial advisor who is helping us structure our businesses for our properties.