All Forum Posts by: Jeremy Melloul

Man, congrats—that’s a great position to be in. Here’s my quick take:

1031 into the 4-unit — solid move if you want to keep it simple and avoid taxes. It’s steady, safe, and adds $1K/month, but if your goal is to exit the W2 grind in a couple years, that extra $1K probably won’t move the needle much. Feels like more of a wealth preservation play than a growth one.

S&P + margin loan — more aggressive, more flexibility. You’d take the tax hit but still have access to capital to pounce on a flip or multifam when the right deal pops up. Just remember margin isn’t free money—it works great until it doesn’t, especially if the market takes a dip while you're mid-flip.

Keep cash, build mobile on your primary, invest the rest — honestly this might be the best mix of income + optionality. $2,500/mo from the mobile is a nice chunk of change, plus you’ve still got $100K ready to go for the next deal. It gives you some breathing room and room to move fast when opportunity shows up.

If I were in your shoes, I’d probably lean toward option 3. It builds cash flow now, keeps you liquid, and gives you more ways to attack without locking it all into one play.

Either way, good on you for stacking up that kind of equity—just don’t go spending it all on vending machines and vending machine courses.

Quote from @Michael A.:

Looking to invest in different cities and states. Primarily fix and flips. Looking at Columbus, Youngstown, Dayton, Ohio. Also, looking at other Midwest markets. I have one city so far where I have a handyman, general contractor, property manager I trust. How do I build a team in other cities and states? I don’t want to be limited to just one city. Also, how do I find a good investor friendly real estate agent that can help me make offers on flip opportunities and also actively look for them. I normally look for houses under $100,000 and perhaps agents view it as a waste of time because they don’t make that much money from it. 

Hey Michael – I’m an agent here in Ohio who helps investors find solid deals and build out their team. I’ll shoot you a DM.

Quote from @Tarek Belal:

Hi all! For those investing in OH, if you're primary goal is cash flow, looking at small multi-family, would you invest in Columbus or Cincinnati ? Pros / Cons of each ? I see both are started to get oversaturated with investors. Thank you!

Hey Tarek—

Cash flow is possible in those cities, but I’d set realistic expectations on how much. Dayton and Cleveland are stronger plays for cash flow. I own there myself and recently sold a duplex where my client’s cash flowing $1,000/month. These kinds of deals exist—I find them often and broker them to my clients. You’ll hear mixed opinions, which is fair—we all have different experiences. But based on mine, I can confidently say: it is possible.

What's up, Jacob!  Yeah, man, a bunch of other guys in my office and I would be happy to take you on. I suggest you stop by our office during the week and meet some of us. I'll DM you the addy.

Solid plan, man. I’m not in South Florida, but here’s my advice—don’t get discouraged if your first deal doesn’t go how you hoped. It happens to all of us, especially when you’re just starting out. Keep at it, and props to you for taking action.

Hi Kevin—

Investing long-distance is not only possible — it’s common. Over 25% of real estate investors buy outside their home state, and I was one of them. Before moving to Columbus, OH, I remotely flipped and managed projects here without knowing a single person besides my agent. That one connection helped me build the team I needed — contractors, property managers, inspectors — all without being on the ground. Fast forward to today, I live in Columbus and now help out-of-state investors do exactly what I did.

Have you looked into Columbus? It’s one of the most affordable metros in the U.S. with strong rent-to-price ratios, steady population growth, and a booming job market anchored by Intel and Ohio State. If you’re serious about investing remotely, this city deserves a look.

Of course you can! You just need the right people in place—and the right agent can help you build that team.

Plenty of investors flip remotely. It’s all about having solid boots on the ground you trust. Sounds like you’re thinking about it the right way, especially being willing to travel early on.

And yes, foreign investors are welcome—as long as you're thoughtful about your approach (which you clearly are), you're good.

Let me know if you ever want to talk deals or team structure.

Welcome! Columbus is a smart choice—less about big cash flow, but strong appreciation potential with all the growth happening here (Intel, OSU, hospitals, etc.). It’s a stable market that rewards long-term plays, especially with the mid-term strategy. I focus on small multi-families in Columbus, so if you ever want to look at some deals or talk shop, feel free to hit me up!

Hey Sam-

Pretty exciting to make a decision to move. I was in LA, too, and left 2.5 years ago. Def glad I did. Where are you thinking about going?

As far as townhouse vs detached SFH. If you prefer lower maintenance and maybe some shared community perks, a townhouse could be a solid choice. But if you want a bigger yard and more privacy, a single-family home might be the way to go. It really comes down to your lifestyle and what matters most to you. I would buy a Duplex and house-hack that bad boy. Let me know if you want to talk more about your options. btw, where in LA are you?

Columbus is a strong market for real estate investment for several reasons. It’s a fast-growing city with steady appreciation, yet it still offers a relatively low barrier to entry. Additionally, its thriving investment community makes it easier to build a reliable and effective team—an ideal setup for out-of-state investors.

There are a bunch of great agents on here, especially in this thread, including myself! I know many of these guys personally, and I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. Good luck, man—I hope this helps!