All Forum Posts by: Joshua Janus

Several weeks ago I posted on BP asking for advice from actual property owners in the Cleveland area (Euclid, specifically) about their experiences with local property managers. I never received a single response from an actual property owner — just self-promotions from PMCs or people affiliated with PMCs. Are there no actual owners on BP?

I am looking for hard money lenders in the Ohio area to finance a BRRRR project in the future. If you know of any reliable lenders please let me know. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!!

I am looking to scale my house flipping business.  
I have someone who I want to pitch to be a private investor and fund a flip from start to finish.

Wondering if anyone has experience doing this and would like to offer some advice.

Also looking for any recommendations as far as how to ideally structure the funding for the deal.

Thank you

Hey @James Crothers, welcome to the community and congrats on setting an ambitious yet achievable goal of owning 10 rental properties in 3 years! Networking with like-minded people is definitely key, and you’re in the right place.

I’ve worked with investors all over the country, including Cleveland, and I can tell you that market is ripe with potential, especially for cash-flow properties. However, the key to getting to 10 rentals lies in strategy. From my experience, here are a few tips:

1. Leverage – You don’t need to buy all your properties outright. Using smart financing like portfolio loans or refinancing after value-add improvements can free up your capital for future investments.
2. Diversify property types – I’ve seen investors get stuck in one type of rental (e.g., single-family homes) and miss out on opportunities in duplexes or small multifamily. Cleveland is especially interesting because you can find multifamily properties at lower entry prices compared to other markets.
3. Network locally – While connecting online is great, building relationships with local realtors, property managers, and contractors can really accelerate your success. I’ve seen firsthand how being plugged into a strong local network can help you find off-market deals or avoid costly repairs.

PS: Did you know Cleveland’s real estate market has some of the most affordable properties compared to other major metros in the US? It’s been consistently ranked as one of the best places for rental yield! 

Good luck, and feel free to ask more questions as you move forward!

I have 8 units so far, all duplexes and SF in Toledo & Cleveland, Ohio. My family member wants to invest in a 24 unit apartment with me so I'm trying to run the numbers.

My question:

What reasonable terms can I get from my PM once I get a large apartment complex? OR should I be happy with what I'm already being charged and not renegotiate.

Right now I pay 100% of first months rent for new leases

$68 per unit month for management

$150 for lease renewal

$500 in reserve per unit for emergency repairs (this will add up on a multifamily not sure how I feel about that)

$75 in person service

12.5% for renovation projects and repairs

20% upcharge on evictions last one was ($560 total)

Thanks in advance for your help it means a lot!

P.S. There is not a specific property in mind at this time, since I am just running the numbers, but if you are interested in a partnership shoot me a message.

Hello all. I am from TN and the real estate here has gotten too pricey to produce the returns I am looking for. We are shifting our focus to NE OH and are looking to build a strong and ethical team for successful BRRRRs. Any advice or referrals would be greatly appreciated. And if I can be of any value to someone looking in TN, please let me know.

Hi everyone,

My name is kamel daniel, and I’m an investor focusing on the Cleveland OH suberbs (mayfield heights, lyndhurst, mentorm willoughby...) real estate market. I’m currently looking to expand my portfolio and am in need of reliable boots on the ground.

I am looking for someone I can trust, who can see the property and tell me honestly if it needs a lot of renovation, if there is a bad smell in there, what is the general condition!!
 he have to understand a bit about renovations, I prefer not a contractor because the contractor has an interest in getting the job, and it would not feel comfortable to send him to several properties even if it is paid.

If you or anyone you know can help, I would love to hear from you

Hey Garrett!
I launched a short term rental in Cleveland this year. All 5 star reviews so far. 

"What are some of your biggest tips for earning 5-star reviews?" 
-Unique personal touches on amenities. High focus on making sure that the guests not only have the typical amenities, but also going further to add more unique things that people wouldn't expect (liquid IV's, waters, various teas, etc.). We also leave a snack basket with chips, chocolates, other snacks with a note for the guest (generic one we can re-use). We receive many positive comments around these. 
-Great communication is KEY. Utilize automated messages to help with this (AirBNB has a scheduled messages tool built into the app. There are also apps like Hospitible that can help with this too). On top of that, always answer guests quickly. If you let questions sit for a day or two, the guests will have a higher chance to leave you a bad review. ALWAYS BE FRIENDLY. 
-Create an experience. Have a theme and other fun things for the guest to do in the house. This is obvious, but having things like a game room, fire pit, and other things that create a good experience for the guest is why they enjoy your place and leave 5 star reviews. Make sure to look at your competition to see what they provide. You'll want to provide something that your competition does not so that your place stands out. 
-Comfy beds are super important: Don't cheap out on the beds. It will be the #1 complaint if you have uncomfortable beds. Zinus mattresses are a reasonable price and are very comfy. King beds are also a big plus if you can add them. 

"How has this property grown your business and investing journey" 
-We just started this year, but it's been very successful. Every guest is obsessed with our location, so we know that if we can find another property in this area, we will have another successful investment (if the math works). This has allowed us to get better at the process of running an STR, and we're (my wife and I) ready to invest in another one to continue growing our business.

"What is one tip you would tell yourself when you first started that you know now"
-How important it is to have a reliable cleaning crew. This is something that we were prepared for going into it, but it's something that you have to have nailed down if you're just starting out. We use the app Turno for our cleaners. It's an amazing tool to ensure that you always have a backup cleaner in the event that your primary cleaner can't make it. It takes a little bit of time to get your cleaner up to speed, but they will soon be able to flip your house perfectly. But not having to worry about your cleaners is a great feeling. 

Here is a link to the listing if interested: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1118689369801923176?source_impr...

 

Hello!

I own a rental property in Cleveland that's currently going through the Section 8 process. The repairs required by Section 8 after the initial inspection were pretty minimal, but I've heard that there are grants and certain lending programs that were available for Section 8 landlords (such as the Community Investment Program). Does anyone have any tips on the best way to finance renovations/improvements for properties like this? Curious if there are any grants available or if there are only better lending terms. Interested to here what strategies folks have used.