All Forum Posts by: Lisa Choi

Hi Kfir,

Welcome to the San Antonio market—great choice for long-term investing!

With your budget of $200K–$300K and your focus on good schools, low crime, and strong neighborhoods, here are a few solid areas to consider:

1. Alamo Ranch / Northwest Side
One of the fastest-growing areas in San Antonio. Good schools (NISD), newer builds, strong retail presence, and high rental demand.

2. Helotes
Technically a suburb but still close to the city. Quiet, family-friendly, with solid appreciation and highly rated schools.

3. Northeast Side
Covers neighborhoods around the NEISD district—like Northern Converse, Live Oak, and parts of Universal City. Well-rated schools, stable communities, and proximity to military bases make this area great for both appreciation and rental income.

4. Stone Oak / North Central
More established and slightly higher priced, but great schools, strong appreciation, and low crime. Very desirable for families and long-term tenants.

Let me know if you’d like agent recommendations, recent comps, or investor-friendly property leads in any of these areas. I work with several out-of-state and first-time investors and would be happy to help.

Thanks for the link, but let’s not pretend property tax rate alone tells the full story.

Sure, Texas has a higher rate—but no state income tax, investor-friendly laws, and overall affordability are why so many out-of-state investors (including a ton of my clients from California) are actively buying here. They’ve done the math, and the returns make sense.

California’s lower rate doesn’t help much when sky-high prices, income tax, and regulation kill your cash flow. This isn’t about cherry-picking one stat—it’s about the bigger financial picture.

But hey, invest wherever makes sense for you. Just don’t act like Texas is off the table when the data and demand say otherwise.

Best of luck!

Hey there—welcome to the San Antonio market!

I'm a local investor-friendly agent and would love to connect. I work exclusively with investors using BRRRR, STR, and buy-and-hold strategies, and I know the San Antonio metro well—from the solid rental pockets to the hidden value-add opportunities.

Happy to share insight on the market, help you run numbers, and be a resource as you build your portfolio here.

Let’s connect!

Hi Anthony,

Welcome! I’m based in San Antonio, TX—definitely a solid market for cash flow with a good balance of appreciation and landlord-friendly laws. We’re seeing strong demand in both long-term and short-term rentals, especially in B and C-class neighborhoods where returns are a bit stronger.

Texas in general fits your criteria well: no state income tax, relatively low property taxes (compared to CA), and growing population centers. Aside from San Antonio, investors are also active in places like Fort Worth, Waco, and parts of the Houston suburbs.

I work with out of state investors regularly and would be happy to be a resource if you’re ever looking to plug into the South Texas market. I also have trusted contacts for lending, property management, and contractors.

Let me know if I can help in any way!

Best,

Hi Gladys,

Welcome to BiggerPockets! Congrats on working toward your first wholesale deal—that's a huge milestone and an exciting foundation for everything you're building with KD Bar Investments. I'm based in San Antonio and focus on off-market investment properties, with a special interest in STR, BTR, and multifamily opportunities across Texas.

It sounds like we share similar goals, and I’d love to connect to exchange ideas and possibly collaborate. I also have trusted agents in the Dallas area, and if you’re ever looking to tap into other Texas markets, I have the resources and would be happy to connect you.

Wishing you continued success on your journey, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of your updates here!

Best,

Great to connect with you! It sounds like you bring a well-rounded skill set to the table — from residential upgrades to investment strategy and even commercial medical space, which is a pretty unique combo. Your background in custom home design and construction oversight is a major asset, especially for clients looking to build from scratch or value-add investors navigating renovations.

I'm also based in Texas (San Antonio area) and focus on investment real estate, primarily working with clients targeting cash-flowing rentals and value-add opportunities. I'm always looking to connect with like-minded professionals — especially those familiar with STR/MTR markets and 1031 exchanges.

Would love to stay in touch and possibly collaborate or share market insights. Let me know if you're ever working a deal that needs investor eyes, or if you'd be open to swapping notes on local trends or lender/vendor referrals.

Congrats on pulling off a solid first project — turning raw land with an older mobile home into a cash-flowing owner-finance deal is no small feat, especially on a tight budget. That kind of value-add approach is exactly how a lot of successful investors get started. Well done!

You're in a great position now with proof of concept under your belt. And you’re absolutely right — the challenge now becomes scaling without draining all your personal savings each time.

This is exactly where hard money loans can be a powerful tool.

Hard money (aka asset-based or fix-and-flip) loans are typically short-term, interest-only loans based more on the value of the deal than your credit or income. Here’s why they might work well in your situation:

• Speed – You can close fast, which helps you lock down undervalued land or mobile homes before others do.

• Leverage – Instead of tying up $80K–$100K of your own capital in one deal, you might only need to bring $15K–$30K to the table. That frees you up to work on multiple projects at once.

• Risk mitigation – By using other people’s money, you're limiting how much of your own capital is on the line. If the deal goes sideways, you're not fully exposed.

• Short-term fit – Since you’re planning to sell quickly (either for cash or owner finance), a 6–12 month loan fits your strategy well.

• Growing credibility – Now that you’ve successfully completed one deal, lenders will be more open to working with you on the next.

Yes, hard money does come with higher interest rates, but when your turn time is fast and your margins are solid (like your $40K–$80K spread), the cost of capital becomes just another line item — not a deal-killer. It's the price of speed, flexibility, and growth.

A few next steps:

• Run future deal numbers with financing included — even if you decide not to borrow, it keeps you sharp and prepared.

• Connect with a few local or regional hard money lenders — ask if they’ll lend on mobile home projects or land with utilities in place.

• Reinvest those profits smartly — stacking cash from a few short-term wins could get you closer to those long-term rentals and quitting the 9–5.

• Document your process — before/after photos, timelines, and numbers help with lender trust and future investors if you bring on private money later.

You’ve already proven you can create value with sweat equity and a solid plan. Now it’s just about scaling smart. Best of luck!

Hey Julian, welcome to BiggerPockets — and major props to you for getting started at 16! That’s incredibly impressive, and you’re already thinking like a long-term entrepreneur by using media as a networking tool. "Media Matters" sounds like a smart way to create value for others while learning the ins and outs of real estate.

Since you’re focused on building a solid foundation before diving into your first deal, here are a few tips to help guide your learning:

1. Start with strategy basics – Learn the key paths in real estate: buy-and-hold, house hacking, wholesaling, flipping, short-term rentals, etc. This helps you figure out what excites you and matches your strengths.

2. Master the numbers – Get comfortable analyzing deals (rents, expenses, cash flow, ROI). Even if you're not buying yet, practicing this helps build real-world confidence.

3. Read books – A few great ones to start with:

   • The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner

   • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

   • The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller

4. Talk to investors – Your media brand gives you the perfect excuse to interview local real estate pros. Ask about their first deal, biggest mistake, or what they’d do differently. Those stories are gold.

5. Stay consistent – Focus on progress, not perfection. Set a goal to learn a little each week, even if it's just reading a blog or listening to one podcast.

You’re way ahead of the game, and by combining media with learning, you're building both a skill set and a network — two things that compound massively over time.

Keep it up and best of luck to you! 

Welcome back to BiggerPockets, and congrats on taking action — that’s a huge first step! Partnering with your dad sounds like a great setup, especially since you each bring different strengths to the table.

It’s awesome that your experience in real estate photography has helped you build confidence and push through fear. That mindset shift — from perfection to progress — is key in real estate investing. No deal is perfect, and most investors look back and realize their first deal wasn’t their best, but it got them in the game.

Since you’re based in Houston and looking within a 3-hour drive, you’ve got access to some great markets like San Antonio, Austin (if budget allows), College Station, and even parts of East Texas. Each of those has its own pros/cons, depending on whether you’re aiming for cash flow, appreciation, or value-add opportunities.

Quick question — are you planning to buy and hold long-term, or are you leaning more toward fix and flip? Knowing your exit strategy will help you narrow down which markets and property types make the most sense.

A few general tips that helped me when I got started:

• Define your goals clearly — is this about building cash flow, building equity, or just getting experience?

• Start analyzing deals regularly — it builds your confidence and helps overcome analysis paralysis.

• Talk to local property managers — they’ll give you on-the-ground insight on rent ranges, demand, and neighborhood trends.

• Run your numbers conservatively — always leave room for vacancies, maintenance, and surprises.

You’ve already got a great edge with your photography and creative skills — that’ll come in handy for marketing rentals or listing flips.

Feel free to DM if you ever want to talk through deal analysis or markets in Central Texas. Wishing you and your dad a strong first investment year!

Hey Sam, welcome to the BiggerPockets community! You're in a great spot—being in research mode and actively asking questions means you're already ahead of a lot of folks who jump in without doing the groundwork.

I totally relate to what you said about the more you learn, the more you realize how much there is to learn. Real estate can definitely feel overwhelming at first, especially when you're trying to evaluate markets from a distance. But that curiosity and willingness to learn will serve you really well.

You're on the right track with the metrics you're using. The 1% rule, income-to-rent ratio, and crime index are all solid starting points. Just keep in mind that very few markets hit the 1% rule consistently these days—especially in stable or appreciating areas—so don’t let that be a dealbreaker if the fundamentals still look strong (rent growth potential, landlord-friendly laws, job and population growth, etc.).

A few tips that might help:

• Focus on a few markets instead of casting too wide a net. Try picking 2–3 cities and really dig into the neighborhoods, local economy, tenant base, etc.

• Talk to local property managers and agents who specialize in investment properties. They’ll have real, on-the-ground insights that data alone won’t reveal.

• Track deals weekly in your target markets—even if you’re not ready to buy yet. It’ll help you develop a sense of what’s a good deal and what’s not.

• Don’t get analysis paralysis. At some point, you have to pull the trigger, even if the deal isn’t perfect. You’ll learn more from doing than from reading.

Also, rookie mistake I see a lot (and made myself): underestimating repair/maintenance costs or assuming high occupancy rates right off the bat. Build in solid reserves and conservative assumptions in your underwriting—it’ll give you peace of mind and help you stay in the game long-term.

Happy to chat more if you’re considering specific markets—San Antonio’s been popular with long-distance investors, and I’m familiar with what’s working here.

You’ve got the right mindset—keep going!