All Forum Posts by: Arman Ahmed

@Evan Moyer

Welcome to BiggerPockets, Evan! Sounds like you’ve built solid experience on both the investing and lending sides—great foundation for hard money lending and fix-and-flip projects. Curious—are you focusing more on lending to other investors now, or still actively doing some flips yourself?

@Jerome Gafford

Hey Jerome, welcome to the community! Multi-family is a smart way to build cash flow and eventually replace your income. If you’re looking at multiple markets, the Midwest has some strong opportunities—properties are often more affordable, rental demand is steady, and you can get good cash flow while still leaving room for appreciation.

Even when exploring different areas, it helps to start with one or two neighborhoods you can really learn—tenant demand, expenses, and management challenges—so your first few deals are smooth. Are you planning to self-manage your units or use a property manager for the early deals?

@Joshua Baker

Hey Joshua, sounds like you’ve got a great foundation with your handyman skills and understanding of long-term rentals from your family. With your budget, a duplex for house hacking could be a smart first step—it lets you learn the ropes, get hands-on experience, and minimize risk.

If you’re looking for growth beyond that, start mapping neighborhoods with steady demand and potential cash flow, then think about scaling gradually. Partnering with a reliable property manager can really help if you want to expand beyond what you can manage yourself.

The combination of doing repairs yourself and targeting markets you know gives you an edge—lean into that. What’s your timeline for your first purchase?

@Ian Ross

Hey Ian, sounds like a tricky situation but it's smart you're thinking about asset protection and tax efficiency early. Since the property is in California, you'll still have to deal with CA state taxes no matter where your LLC is formed, but forming in a state like NV or WY can have some benefits for privacy and liability protection. Definitely make sure you loop in a CPA and real estate attorney familiar with cross-border or out-of-state ownership—they can help structure it in the most efficient way.

Curious—are you looking to hold it long-term as a rental or reposition the property? That can affect how you structure things too.

@Dustin Abner

Hey Dustin, great question—and you’re right to be thinking this through before jumping in. Dayton has a lot of opportunity, but like you mentioned, some areas can be rough for a house hack if you’re living there.

Kettering and Oakwood are definitely safer bets, but they can be pricier and more competitive. Troy, Beavercreek, and even parts of Miamisburg can also give you that balance of lower crime, solid tenant base, and more stable returns.

If you’re just starting out, I’d focus on one or two zip codes that fit your comfort level and learn them really well. That way, you’ll spot a good deal faster when it pops up.

@Lisa M.

Welcome, Lisa! You’re asking all the right questions.

From what I’ve seen:

Midwest still have some of the best cash flow opportunities.

If you’re brand new, house hacking a small multi near a metro can be a great way to learn while keeping costs down. For long-term cash flow, the Midwest is still one of the most reliable regions.

Since you’ll be moving, I’d focus on a spot that gives you both lifestyle (nature, rural feel) and proximity to a metro for deals and contractors.

What excites you more right now—getting licensed, or jumping straight into wholesaling/investing?

@Brad Braunstein

Brad, that’s awesome—congrats on taking the first step. St. Augustine is definitely a strong short-term rental market, but like any tourist-driven spot, the big things to watch are seasonality, management costs, and regulations. A lot of first-timers hedge risk by buying a place that also pencils out as a long-term rental if rules ever shift.

Since you’re new to STRs, it might also help to compare what cash flow looks like in out-of-state markets too—especially some Midwest cities. Tourism is great for appreciation, but Midwest markets often give more steady year-round returns and affordability, which is why a lot of investors balance both.

Are you planning to self-manage or lean on a local property manager? That usually ends up being the biggest factor in how smooth the first deal goes.

@Trevor Bogus

Hey Trevor,

Sounds like you’ve done some solid research! Small multi-family for long-term cash flow is a great strategy, especially when out-of-state. I focus on helping investors find off-market opportunities and evaluate properties that meet cash flow and growth goals.

If you want, I can share some insights on evaluating deals efficiently and key factors for property management in new markets.

@Matthew Heckman

For a first multifamily, I’d focus on Midwest markets where you can get solid cash flow without overextending on rehab. Look for neighborhoods with steady rental demand, low turnover, and affordable entry prices. Even smaller 2–4 units can be a great start if you find the right property and team.

Key things I’ve seen make a difference: understanding the local rental market, having a reliable contractor for light rehabs, and lining up a property manager early—even if you plan to self-manage at first.

What kind of cash flow are you targeting for your first property?

@Ravi Bhagavan

Ravi, you’re thinking about this really strategically. I agree that scale matters, but without a solid team, even a high-cash-flow property can become a headache. Starting with a smaller multi (4–8 units) in a strong area lets you gain hands-on experience with management, tenant turnover, and minor rehabs while building relationships with a property manager, lender, and CPA you trust. Once your team is solid and you have the systems in place, scaling up to larger complexes becomes much less risky and more profitable. I’d be happy to share what’s worked for me if you want to dive deeper.