All Forum Posts by: Arman Ahmed

@Elvi San Juan

Hey Elvi — welcome to the investing journey! I’m based out of Columbus, OH and actively work with investors (mostly out-of-state) who are targeting similar cash flow goals in the Midwest. While I’m not in Tulsa, I definitely respect the play you’re making — sub-$150K SFRs with $500/month cash flow is a sweet spot if the fundamentals line up.

If you ever decide to diversify into other markets like Columbus, happy to share insights on neighborhoods, rent-to-price ratios, or team-building tips. Wishing you a smooth first acquisition in Tulsa — it’s a solid market with the right boots on the ground.

Are you self-managing or planning to use a local PM from the jump?

@Eli Norden
Hey Eli, Welcome to the BP community and congrats on your first successful deal! Sounds like you navigated that transition from primary to rental to exit pretty smoothly — that’s no small feat, especially with the market shifts we’ve had since 2022.

I'm also based in Columbus and actively work with out-of-state and local investors on buy-and-hold, BRRRR, and flip strategies. There's a lot of opportunity here, especially if you know the submarkets well.

If you’re looking to get deeper into real estate investing (especially while already having a CPA background — huge advantage), I’d be happy to connect, swap insights, or just talk shop.

What type of properties or strategies are you looking to explore next?

@Melodie Cornelly

Hey Melodie — love that you’re thinking about house hacking early! It’s one of the smartest ways to get started with real estate investing, especially while you’re young.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Use an Owner-Occupied Loan: FHA (3.5% down) or Conventional (as low as 5% down) loans are great options. You can buy a 2–4 unit property, live in one unit, and rent the others out.
2. Look in College or Commuter Areas: These often have high rental demand. In upstate NY, places near SUNY schools or commuter hubs can cash flow well.
3. Room Rentals Can Work Too: If you can’t find a multi-family, consider buying a single-family and renting out bedrooms. It still qualifies as house hacking.
4. Start Building Credit & Saving Now: Lenders will look at your credit and savings, so start preparing while you’re still in school.
5. Network Early: Connect with local investors, agents, and lenders now. BiggerPockets is a great start, but local meetups and Facebook groups help too.

I’m happy to share more resources or examples if you want — I work with new investors all the time and love helping people get started the right way. You’re already ahead of the game! 👏

@Kumar Kit

That sounds like a really exciting project — combining steel modular prefab with a lakefront STR opportunity is a smart move, especially in a market with that kind of nightly rate potential.

A few creative strategies you might consider:

• Equity Partnerships: Partner with a builder or private investor who can bring capital or GC services in exchange for equity in the STR or future profits from similar builds.

• Private Money Lenders: Some STR-focused private lenders will finance both land and construction if the STR pro forma is strong. Especially compelling since your land is free and clear.

• Joint Ventures with STR Operators: There are short-term rental brands and operators who invest in unique stays and might co-invest or lease the property with management in place.

• Seller-Carry or Note Hypothecation: If you have other paid-off properties, you could hypothecate those notes or equity to raise funds without selling.

• STR-focused DSCR Lenders: A few lenders are starting to fund modular new builds if the STR income covers the debt service well enough post-construction.

I’m involved in build-to-rent and vacation STRs and happy to connect or brainstorm if you’re open to collaborations or looking for someone with investor contacts in that space. Keep pushing — it’s a unique model with strong potential.

@Dylan Darty

Welcome, Dylan — sounds like you’re setting yourself up with a strong foundation between your finance background and real estate focus!

Creative financing strategies like seller financing and subject-to can absolutely work in San Diego, especially in today’s high-rate environment — but they tend to be more relationship-driven and off-market. You’ll likely have better luck targeting tired landlords, older owners with high equity, or properties that have sat on the market for a while.

Multifamily in SD is competitive, but if you’re open to long-term play and don’t mind thinner cash flow upfront, it can be worth it for appreciation and tax benefits. If you’re flexible geographically, some investors are also branching into out-of-state multifamily (I invest in Ohio myself) where numbers can pencil out more cleanly and creative financing options are more common.

Happy to share how others are making it work or what to watch for depending on your strategy. You’re on the right track — just keep learning and networking.

@David McDonald

Sounds like you’re in a great position to scale with that equity — nice work building it up!

I invest in Ohio, and it's been a solid market for exactly what you're looking for: low price-to-rent ratios, landlord-friendly laws, and strong rental demand in cities like Columbus, Dayton, and parts of Cleveland. With $300k in equity, you could potentially pick up multiple turnkey or light rehab properties, especially if you're using a HELOC.

Turnkey can be a smooth intro, but if you find a solid local team (PM, agent, contractor), light value-add properties can boost your equity position quicker. Just make sure you're running numbers conservatively, especially factoring in today's interest rates and DSCR loan terms.

If you’re still narrowing down markets or looking for insights on what neighborhoods are performing well here, happy to share what I’ve seen work.

@Christopher Garcia

Great to hear you're jumping back into BRRRR with more structure — smart move with the way the market's shifting.

I invest heavily in Columbus, OH, and Cleveland as well. In Cleveland, neighborhoods like Old Brooklyn, Parma, and certain pockets of Maple Heights can still pencil out if you buy right and manage the rehab tightly. Columbus is more competitive, but value-add BRRRRs still work in parts of South Linden, Hilltop, and Whitehall — especially if you have a solid contractor and rental comps locked in before purchase.

On the refi side, local credit unions and portfolio lenders have been a better route than big banks lately. Some of them offer investor-friendly DSCR products with lower seasoning requirements too.

Happy to trade notes or talk more about what’s working in Ohio. Let me know which market you’re leaning toward!

@Matthew Kimmons

Your thinking makes total sense, especially if your BRRRR timeline is under a year. Using an interest-only HELOC can be a great way to keep your monthly outflow lower during the rehab and rental stabilization phase. I've used interest-only HELOCs myself to fund projects, and as long as you're confident in the refinance exit or sale timeline, the flexibility and lower payments can be a big advantage.

That said, I’d just recommend running a couple of “what-if” scenarios — like delays in rehab, appraisals coming in lower than expected, or rate adjustments happening faster than you plan to exit — just so you’re fully covered.

Smart move leveraging your San Diego equity to grow your portfolio! Are you looking at investing locally or out-of-state for your BRRRR deals? I'm investing in Ohio where BRRRR is still doable with the right purchase price and team.

@Manuel Castellanos

Welcome, Manuel! Your background in structural engineering will be a huge asset, especially when it comes to evaluating rehab projects confidently.

I’m based in Ohio and actively flipping properties out here. Totally understand your focus on staying local for now, but if you ever consider exploring out-of-state investing or want to connect on strategies for building reliable teams and sourcing deals, happy to chat and exchange ideas.

Wishing you the best as you dive into the Bay Area market — sounds like you’re off to a strong start!

@Irene Block

Great to hear you're working on BRRRRs in Columbus — I'm based here and actively investing as well, mostly in single-family and small multifamily. You're spot on: BRRRR still works, but it definitely takes precision now more than ever.

We're finding deals through a mix of cold outreach, local wholesaler relationships, and MLS agents who understand what investors are looking for. The margins are tighter, so we're really leaning into neighborhoods where ARVs are strong and rent demand is stable (like South Linden, Whitehall, parts of Hilltop, and some pockets in Northland).

Having a solid contractor team and a good lender partner for the refi has made all the difference. Happy to compare notes or hear more about how your recent project wrapped up!