All Forum Posts by: Jimmy Lieu

Hey Hilary, welcome to BP! It sounds like you’re approaching this the right way by thinking long term about where renter demand will grow. Philly has some interesting pockets, but since you mentioned not wanting to limit your search, I’d also suggest looking at Columbus, Ohio. The fundamentals here are really strong—population is growing fast, job growth is steady, and we’ve got massive companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Honda, LG, Microsoft, and more investing heavily in the region. The best part is you can still find affordable properties in the $120K–180K range that hit the 1% rule and cash flow from day one, while also benefiting from strong appreciation potential as the city continues to expand. It’s a very landlord-friendly market too, which makes it attractive for investors who want a smoother experience. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Katie congrats on picking up those duplexes in Dayton—that’s a great start. From experience, a good balance with a property manager usually means trusting them to handle day-to-day issues while still keeping enough oversight to protect your investment. For late rent, it’s pretty standard to let the PM follow their process as long as they’re collecting consistently and enforcing late fees, but it’s also fair to ask for a monthly owner statement that clearly shows any late or outstanding payments so you’re in the loop without needing to micromanage. On repairs, it’s completely reasonable to expect timely updates and photos, and an 8-week delay without a clear answer is not industry standard—repairs should be communicated in real time, and you shouldn’t have to chase down updates. If you find the communication with their contractors lacking, you might consider asking your PM if you can approve or recommend vendors on bigger jobs, or at least set clearer expectations on timelines and progress reports. At the end of the day, the best PM relationships work when there’s trust, but also accountability through clear reporting and agreed-upon communication standards. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Cody, welcome to BP and thanks for sharing your situation! Being active duty definitely adds an extra layer since you’re moving every few years, and that makes long-distance investing a very realistic option. House hacking in San Diego could work if you want to offset your living expenses while you’re stationed there, but because prices are so high it might be tough to hit strong cash flow numbers. That’s where out-of-state investing comes in—it allows you to buy in more affordable markets where properties can still meet the 1% rule and cash flow right away. A lot of military investors go this route since they’re already used to moving and managing things remotely. Columbus, Ohio is one market I’d suggest looking at because the fundamentals are really strong—population growth, job growth, and major companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Honda, LG, and more moving in or expanding here. You can still find solid deals in the $120K–180K range that rent well and provide both cash flow and appreciation potential. The landlord laws in Ohio are also investor-friendly, which makes it easier when you’re managing from a distance. Long-distance investing is absolutely doable as long as you build a good local team (agent, property manager, contractor) so you’re not trying to handle everything yourself from afar. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

That’s an awesome setup you’ve built, and congrats on scaling up while keeping your costs low—that’s a huge advantage with your construction background. Your strategy of keeping leverage modest to maximize cash flow makes a lot of sense, especially if your goal is to semi-retire by 40 and have consistent income without being overexposed to debt. The main thing I’d think about is balance—too little leverage can slow down your growth, while too much leverage can put your cash flow at risk if vacancies or rate changes hit. Since you already have equity and the ability to build more units, you’re in a strong spot to create scalable income streams, and with rents at $700 per unit you’re hitting solid numbers for your basis. If you do move forward with adding 4 more units, I’d make sure the rents in that area will continue to support cash flow and demand, especially in rural markets where appreciation can be slower. Overall, you’re setting yourself up really well—if you can replicate this model in a market with strong population and job growth (Columbus, Ohio is a great example where properties can still hit the 1% rule, cash flow, and appreciate long-term), you’ll have both steady income and upside growth. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Great question—making an offer with an agent on an investment property is actually pretty straightforward, but it helps to be clear on your numbers before you start. First, you’ll want to have your financing in place or proof of funds ready if it’s cash, and then communicate your criteria to your agent so they know exactly what type of deal you’re looking for. When you find a property that makes sense, your agent will draft up the purchase agreement and present it to the seller’s side on your behalf, and that’s where you can set your offer price, earnest money, inspection period, closing timeline, and any contingencies you want included. For example, in Columbus, Ohio a lot of investors I work with are looking for properties in the $120–180K range that hit the 1% rule and cash flow from day one, so they’ll often structure their offers with quick closes and clean terms to stand out in this competitive market. The key is knowing your numbers and sticking to them so you don’t get emotional—let the deal either meet your criteria or walk away. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Sam, welcome to BP! That’s a really smart idea and college towns can definitely be great for rentals since demand from students is usually steady year after year, but just keep in mind the trade-offs like higher turnover and extra wear-and-tear compared to traditional tenants. If you plan to use it yourself during the summer, just make sure the numbers still work when you’re only collecting rent for 8–9 months instead of a full year. If you’re looking at the Midwest, Columbus, Ohio is worth considering—Ohio State has over 68K students which creates constant demand, and on top of that the city itself is booming with job growth, population growth, and huge companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, Microsoft, and LG moving in. The great part is you can still find affordable properties in the $120–180K range that hit the 1% rule and cash flow, and the long-term appreciation potential here is really strong. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Ian, sounds like you’re doing really well for 30 and honestly you’re on the right track—$570 a month in cash flow plus saving $2K monthly is a strong position to be in. The feeling of being “stuck” while saving is super common, but that discipline is exactly what sets you up for the next deal. In the meantime, staying active by networking, analyzing as many deals as you can, and even trying something like bird dogging or wholesaling if you want to get your feet wet without much capital can be really productive. Also, while you’re looking at Lansing and surrounding markets, I’d suggest also keeping an eye on Columbus, Ohio. I moved here from Portland in 2020 to invest and now own 10+ rentals, and what makes it so strong is the combination of affordability and growth—you can still find 3 bed 2 bath homes in that $120–180K range that hit the 1% rule, cash flow well, and are backed by huge long-term fundamentals with population growth, job growth, and major companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, and Microsoft moving in. If you stay disciplined, your next purchase could put you in an even stronger position for scaling. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Welcome to BP Chris and thank you for your service! Sounds like you're in a great position to get started, and you're already asking the right questions. If you're looking for BRRRR opportunities and properties in that 80–125K range, I'd definitely suggest taking a hard look at Columbus, Ohio. It's still one of the few bigger metro markets where you can find properties in that price point that cash flow and even hit the 1% rule, and the city has really strong fundamentals—population growth, steady job growth, and a ton of major companies investing here like Intel, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Honda, and Nationwide. Columbus is also very landlord-friendly compared to a lot of other states, which makes long-distance investing easier. On team building, I'd say the key is finding an agent and property manager you trust first, and then leveraging their network for contractors and other boots-on-the-ground support. I moved from Portland to Columbus back in 2020 to invest full time and now own 10+ rentals here, and honestly the biggest mistake I see newer out-of-state investors make is not running the numbers conservatively enough or underestimating rehab costs. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Sam, welcome to BP and that’s a really creative strategy! College towns can be a great entry point since you usually get steady demand every school year, but the trade-off is you want to be careful about turnover and wear-and-tear with student rentals. Also think about vacancy during summer if you plan to use it yourself—financially it means you’re taking those months off the table for rent, so just make sure the numbers still work with 8–9 months of income instead of a full 12. If you’re open to the Midwest, I’d definitely recommend looking at Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State University has over 68K students, so demand is always strong, and beyond just the college population the city itself is growing fast with tons of job growth and big companies like Intel, Amazon, Google, Honda, and Microsoft moving in. The cool thing is you can still find properties in the $120–180K range that hit the 1% rule and cash flow even after factoring in student rental cycles. Plus, Columbus is landlord-friendly and has great long-term appreciation potential, so it’s not just a student rental play—you’ve got multiple exit strategies. Happy to connect and answer any questions you have!

Hey Ethan, that’s awesome to hear you’re already investing across multiple cities in Ohio—it really is a strong state for balancing portfolios.