All Forum Posts by: Jamie Dietz

I agree with @Jeremy Taggart that a 3–4 unit property would be ideal. However, you might also want to consider buying a larger single-family home with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. While living with several roommates has its pros and cons, it could give you the opportunity to afford a bigger home in a nicer area.

Welcome.  What property management company are you with?   Happy to connect.  

Pittsburgh is not one size fits all market.  Out of state investors often make the mistake of treating the city and its surrounding areas as one homogenous opportunity.

Take McKeesport, Coraopolis, Middle Hill, and Oil City, for example. These areas each operate like entirely different markets—with their own property values, tenant expectations, risk levels, and investment strategies.

🔹 McKeesport may offer high cash flow potential but often comes with greater management demands.
🔹 Coraopolis has more stability and proximity to the airport, appealing to working professionals and longer-term tenants.
🔹 Middle Hill is close to major hospitals and universities but remains transitional—timing and block-by-block knowledge are critical.
🔹 Oil City isn’t even in Allegheny County, yet some out-of-state investors lump it in with Pittsburgh due to price point alone—when in reality, it's a completely different economic ecosystem.

When your temperate gets 100+ in Phoenix hop on plan and come visit.  We have a wonderful climate (spring-fall) to get feel for the area. 

What area you investing?  

Hi @Sara Zelkovic — I'm glad to see you've chosen strong neighborhoods like Avalon, Bellevue, Lawrenceville, Squirrel Hill, and Bloomfield. I get calls all the time from out-of-state investors who are drawn to low property prices in more challenging areas, but it's great to see someone focusing on solid, sustainable rental markets.

I provide private (hard money) loans throughout the Pittsburgh region, though I personally prefer funding deals in stable, high-demand neighborhoods like the ones you've targeted

FYI I own properties in those neighborhoods as well.

Let me know if I can ever be a resource or if you'd like to connect!

Welcome to the Pittsburgh real estate scene.   

I often suggest to new investors take a step back and ask yourself: How much time and energy do I really want to spend on this?

If you have a strong, high-paying career, it may make more sense to focus on building a passive or semi-passive portfolio over the next few years.  Create a strategy that works for you while you grow in your profession. Make sure your investing strategy aligns with your lifestyle and long-term goals.

As you plan your next property purchase, I suggest you keep your investments geographically clustered. Whether you're self-managing or using a property manager, having your rentals close together can save significant time, reduce costs, and simplify operations.
  

I agree with the consensus above and recommend rewiring it now. It’s so much easier to get it done before any updates are made. Most likely, they’ll need to cut into drywall and make a mess to access certain areas—better to handle that before finishing work begins.

These forums are a great starting point, but you should also check out local meetups, happy hours, and workshops. There are plenty of regular events happening each month. Just do a quick search online/Facebook—or feel free to reach out if you’d like help making a connection.