All Forum Posts by: Arman Ahmed

@Drew Zalescik

Hi Drew,

Congrats on starting your journey! For a first rental, especially a live-and-fix, both paths can work—but it comes down to your comfort level and timeline. Saving for a 20% down can give you more cash flow flexibility and lower mortgage payments, but an FHA loan could let you get started sooner and start building experience.

Since you have some free time each year, a live-and-fix strategy can be great for learning hands-on, but make sure your rehab scope is realistic and you’ve accounted for unexpected costs. Keep your first deal manageable—don’t bite off more than you can handle for your first project.

What's your target property type or size? That can help weigh FHA versus conventional.

@Melissa Wilson

Hi Melissa,

A 5-year AMR can definitely help reduce losses while holding out for a better market—essentially giving you breathing room without having to sell at a loss. The key risks are what you mentioned: rates adjusting after 5 years and market changes. Many investors in similar situations use AMRs strategically to stabilize cash flow, especially if they can weather the potential rate increase and plan to hold long enough for appreciation.

You might also consider using the time to explore refinancing options or even small improvements that could make the property more appealing when the market turns. It’s all about balancing reduced monthly losses now with potential upside later.

Are you thinking of holding only until the market improves, or longer-term as a cash-flow play?

@Jessica Yuan

Welcome to BiggerPockets, Jessica! Starting with a house hack is a smart move—it lets you get experience managing rentals while living in the property. If you’re open to exploring beyond your local area, the Midwest has some great markets for first-time investors: affordable properties, solid cash flow, and manageable rehab costs. Looking into off-market opportunities there can give you options you won’t see on Zillow or Redfin. Have you considered checking out smaller Midwest cities where your investment could go further?

@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.