All Forum Posts by: Arman Ahmed

@Anthony Silva

Anthony, congrats on taking the first steps—that's exciting! Since you'll be living in the property first, looking into owner-occupant loans like FHA (3.5% down) or conventional (as low as 5% down) is a great way to get started, and you can potentially house hack if you find the right setup. Once you transition into pure investment properties, most lenders will want 20–25% down, but you can also explore DSCR loans or portfolio lenders that are investor-friendly. Personally, I invest in the Midwest where prices are still undervalued compared to rental demand, and the financing principles are the same—secure strong lending relationships early so you can scale step by step.

@Sean Hennessy

Sean, great that you're already digging into rent-to-price ratios and thinking long term. When evaluating towns, I'd look beyond comps and focus on fundamentals: population/job growth, diversity of employers (not just tourism), landlord/tenant laws, and property tax trends. Near-water locations can be great, but definitely cross-check FEMA flood maps and insurance costs so you don't get surprised. Talking with local PMs is also invaluable—they'll tell you where tenants actually want to live and what areas tend to have higher turnover. I invest in the Midwest, but the same principles apply no matter the market—strong fundamentals usually beat chasing the cheapest deal.

@Brice Peterson

Brice, I like that you're thinking about this early. A lot of investors I know (myself included—I invest in the Midwest) got started with little capital by leaning on house hacking with FHA/owner-occupant loans, partnerships, or private money. The key is building credibility by networking, learning to underwrite BRRRRs, and bringing real value to the table. I'd suggest working both sides at once: sharpen deal-finding so you know a winner when you see it, while also lining up financing relationships so you can move quickly.

@Ajay Singh

That sounds like an exciting project, Ajay! With STRs, location and experience design really drive returns—nature-focused properties tend to do best when you highlight unique features (seclusion, trails, views, hot tubs, fire pits, etc.) and create a guest experience beyond just a place to sleep. When running the numbers, make sure to factor in not only nightly rates but also seasonality, occupancy rates, local STR regulations, and management costs. I invest in the Midwest, so while my focus is different, I've seen STR investors succeed by really dialing in both the property and the guest experience.

@Adrian Zy

Springfield definitely has its own unique landlord-tenant laws, so I’d recommend connecting with a local agent or property manager who knows that market well. Eviction timelines and costs can vary depending on the situation, but local professionals can give you a clear picture of what to expect. I personally invest in the Midwest, so while I can’t speak to Springfield specifics, I’ve found having a solid local team makes all the difference.

@Justin Patrick

Welcome, Justin! Great to see you diving into BRRRR. I invest in the Midwest and it's been a strong market for buy-and-hold strategies, especially when you're disciplined with rehab numbers and conservative on ARV. Starting small and scaling to a few properties a year is a smart path — consistent deal flow compounds quickly. Are you leaning toward self-managing at first or working with a property manager right away?

@Samuel Gunawan

BRRRR numbers can look messy at first, but I keep it simple: total all-in costs (purchase + rehab + closing/holding), confirm ARV with comps, then check if the bank's 70–75% refi covers most of those costs. Last step is cash flow — run realistic rents minus PM, vacancy, and maintenance. Biggest mistakes come from underestimating rehab or overestimating ARV, so stay conservative. Do you already have a process for those two?

@Isidro Rodriguez Jr

Isidro, welcome to the forum! Using your HELOC as leverage is a solid strategy many investors use to get started. For out-of-state markets like Cleveland, the key is knowing your neighborhoods well — some zip codes cash flow great but come with higher management headaches, while others are steadier B-class rentals. A few things that help: lean on a local team (agent + PM + contractor), run conservative rehab estimates, and always stress-test your numbers (vacancy, CapEx, etc.). For financing, look into DSCR or rehab loan products that bundle purchase + renovation. Once you've got boots on the ground and reliable comps, it's much easier to decide if a deal is BRRRR-worthy and worth holding long-term.

@Sakheni Dlamini

Sakheni, totally understand the nerves — every out-of-state investor goes through that with their first deal. That part of E 47th is closer to a C-/D+ pocket in my opinion. The PM feedback you got lines up — higher vacancy and break-in risk can eat into returns if you don’t budget for it. Some investors do well there with the right team and higher cashflow, but it’s not usually where I’d recommend someone buy their very first property, especially remotely. If you want something with less risk for a starter deal, you might look at areas where PMs are more willing to manage, even if the returns on paper are a little lower.

@Kyle Neff

Kyle, that's a great breakdown — you're clearly looking at this the right way. A lot of investors I know in similar positions have found the hybrid model to be the sweet spot: outsource leasing/renewals since that's where student rentals can really eat up time, but keep CapEx/maintenance oversight in-house to protect margins. One thing to consider is hiring a dedicated VA or part-time "boots on the ground" runner to handle the day-to-day tenant/maintenance coordination — that way you save most of the PM cost without losing focus on acquisitions. At your scale, even if that costs you $15–20k/year, you're still well ahead while keeping your deal pipeline strong.