All Forum Posts by: Stephen Short

Hello Chris My recommendation is that before you move to Florida, buy a house here, rehab it yourself and flip it. Not sure you want to get into rentals if you're looking relocate momentarily. I graduated from Fisher Business College at OSU in '05. My major was Real Estate and Urban Analysis. I wish I had majored in Economics. I learned more about real estate in the 8 months it took me to flip a house doing the work myself, than I did in the 2 years I attended Fisher. If I were you I'd get a flip under my belt just for the experience. Learn how to interpret economic data so you can tell what cycle of real estate you are in and what's coming up. Use Columbus as a stepping stone for experience before you get to Florida. It will be harder there as you have to meet new people and contacts and learn the local economy and housing market. Get some hands on experience here first. GL

The "Hood" is different than the ghetto. It's better.  There's a lot more homeowners.  Crime is lower and lots of times the these hood areas aren't as bad as people think. I would invest in the hood but not the ghetto.  When I think ghetto I think about towers and blocks of government housing with drug dealers on the corners.  It's not always like that in the hood.  

They'll turn because they're closer to the city and lots of times the hood has nice old brick and architecture that just isn't built anymore.  Don't be scared of the hood! It's turning around.  At least that's the way it is in Columbus.

The negative(hoody) is the crime and schools, obviously.  The positive is that the margins are there!  If you're in a city like Columbus that has low unemployment, and a growing population and plenty of jobs, then the housing prices will go up( Cbus is really hot right now). 

Well these good people are being priced out of the nicer areas that have risen in value and they're moving to the " fringe" neighborhoods like Franklinton, which is hoody but not ghetto.  Also the near east side which has built a great new expansive Children's Hospital.  Currently that neighborhood is hoody.  But it's turning. I see it every day and I would invest there.  

There's big gains to be had in these sometimes hoody areas.  Look locally where the government is spending money and what areas the mayor makes a priority to revitalize. Get in while still "transitional" and you should do well.

I went to Ohio State when the Short North was hoody.  There were gangs and it was generally sketchy.  Now the Short North is the trendiest spot in the city and the investors I know who took a chance 12-15 yrs ago are now extremely well off

Sounds like a good rental opportunity. If you're looking to flip in a neighborhood such as this then I would try to purchase for around 20K. If not then keep looking around in the neighborhood for other forclosures for a house with an ARV around 100,000

I also would be interested in going to a monthly BP meeting. I feel like there's a lot of growth in Central Ohio and would love to share/hear different strategies for our local area. Count me in!

There's still really good margins in Columbus.  The demographics support it.  Low unemployment, above average median income, increasing population in Franklin county, Capitol of Ohio, Ohio State, top rated hospitals etc.

Many people are being priced out of the nicer areas and going to Franklinton and Near east side

It really depends on the neighborhood. In Columbus I see a lot of potential in Franklinton and the near east side, particularly Olde Town East and anything North of I70. Stay away from Linden and anything east of I71. There's not any room for appreciation and the housing is capped at what you can flip for. I just saw a property go up for sale in Franklinton for $90,000 fully rehabbed. I looked on the auditors site and the guy bought it for $10,500 Dec 30. People are being priced out of Clintonville, Short North and Campus and are moving into "transitional" neighborhoods. There's still a lot of deals for those who see where the population is trending.