All Forum Posts by: Arman Ahmed

@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!

@Richard Helppie-Schmieder

Love this post — 100% agree that direct-to-agent deals are underrated. I invest in Ohio (mainly Columbus and Dayton), and I’m seeing similar success by building strong relationships with local agents who know I can close fast and don’t play games.

I’ve also been pulling my own lists (driving for dollars, tax delinquents, tired landlords, etc.) and cold calling or texting them directly — costs time, but not much money. That’s helped me avoid paying wholesale fees and find better margins.

Curious: are you doing your own dispo too or partnering with any agents to relist after the flip?

@Luke Mertz

Hey, this is actually how a lot of people get started — and it’s a super smart move. I’ve seen folks do exactly this and use the cash flow from roommates to cover their mortgage or even come out ahead. I invest in Ohio, and even here, house hacking around universities works really well when done right.

For the summer when you’re away, you’ve got options:

• You can sublet to summer school students or interns.
• List it as a short-term rental (if your area allows).
• Or just have someone local keep an eye on things — you’re only 4 hours away, so you can still manage remotely with the right setup.

As long as you screen tenants properly and treat it like a business from the beginning, it’s a solid way to start building equity early. Definitely a viable strategy if the numbers make sense!

@Madhan S.

Hey Madhan, sounds like you’ve built a solid foundation over the last 15 years — props on that consistency. You’re not alone in feeling that SFHs can become a grind, especially in high-cost markets like San Diego where yield is hard to come by.

I invest in Ohio (mostly Columbus/Dayton), and made a similar transition after stacking up SFHs — I hit the same wall with financing limits, scaling challenges, and low cashflow. A few things that worked well for me and might be worth exploring for you:

• Transitioning to small multifamily (4–20 units) in more affordable Midwest markets — it gave me better economies of scale and improved cash flow without diving straight into full-blown syndication or big commercial deals.

• Building a local team (property manager, boots-on-ground, contractors) allowed me to stay active from a distance. You’re already in a great spot with capital and flexibility, so building those systems could be a strong next step.

• Portfolio consolidation might be worth considering — selling off lower-performing SFHs and 1031-ing into higher-yielding multifamily could help simplify and scale.

• If you’re considering full-time RE, building a vertically integrated business (PM/brokerage/contractor) could be powerful, especially in a market you understand well or control deals in. I’ve done something similar and it’s added a lot of operational control and optionality.

You’re clearly capable — it’s just about choosing the path that aligns with your lifestyle and scalability goals. If you’re looking at Ohio or want to brainstorm strategy, happy to connect.

@Garrett Prenger

Hey, props to you for saving up $70K — that gives you a lot of flexibility.

Multifamily is definitely a great route for building monthly cash flow, especially here in Columbus. There are still pockets where the numbers make sense, especially with 2–4 unit properties. They’re also easier to finance and manage when starting out.

A few tips from someone active in the Columbus market:

• Focus on B/C class neighborhoods where rents are strong but property prices aren’t inflated (South Linden, Hilltop, parts of Whitehall, and Franklinton are worth looking into — but each zip has its own pros/cons).
• Make sure you’re factoring in all expenses — property taxes in Ohio can be high after reassessment, and older properties here usually need more capex.
• Partnering with an investor-friendly agent who knows the multifamily landscape here can be a game-changer (happy to chat if you ever want to trade notes).

You’re on the right track — feel free to reach out or DM if you want to dive deeper into the Columbus market or talk through your first deal!

@Michael A.

Hey — I actually invest in the Dayton and Troy areas, and you’re right — Troy’s a solid market. It has more stable schools, stronger owner-occupant demand, and less investor saturation compared to central Dayton. That helps on resale.

Your numbers seem pretty solid, especially if the renovation truly stays at $25K–$30K. Just make sure to verify your ARV carefully — if the comps you're using are renovated to a similar standard (especially kitchen/bath/deck/roof), then listing around $200K–$210K should be realistic.

A couple tips:

• If it’s a 4-bed, try to highlight that in your listing — those are more rare in Troy and can help you stand out.

• I’d also check how long comparable homes are sitting on market. Even if you need to price a little more aggressively to get a faster sale, you’ll still walk away with solid profit.

• Don’t forget holding costs — even on light flips they add up quickly in Ohio winters.

Let me know if you want a second opinion on comps or want to run through a deal analyzer. Always happy to trade notes with a fellow Ohio investor.

@Allison Foulks

Hey Allison — welcome to the BiggerPockets community, and congrats on diving into your first BRRRR deal! Starting with multifamily is a smart move — more units often means stronger cash flow and better financing options down the road.

A couple tips as you’re getting started:

• Build your team early: Your lender, contractor, property manager, and real estate agent/investor agent will make or break your BRRRR. Make sure they understand the strategy.

• Run your numbers conservatively: Don't just focus on ARV — make sure your rehab budget is padded and your rent comps are realistic. Vacancies and CapEx sneak up quickly on multis.

• Track everything: Especially during your first deal — document your scope of work, track expenses, and keep a timeline. It’ll save you on future projects.

I invest primarily in Ohio (Columbus & Dayton) and work with a lot of out-of-state BRRRR investors — happy to answer any questions or share tools I use like rental grade maps and deal analyzers.

Excited to follow your journey. What kind of multifamily are you looking at — duplexes or larger?

@Stephanie Heron Weeber

Hey Stephanie — totally hear you on this! Builder’s Risk can feel like overkill, especially if you’re used to simpler vacant property policies. But once you’re working on a higher-value project like this ($2M+ total exposure), most carriers get a lot stricter.

That 6-page app is pretty standard at that level, unfortunately. Some investors I know have had better luck with specialty insurance brokers who work specifically with flippers and developers. They sometimes find more flexible policies or ways to combine coverage (structure + liability + theft) without breaking the bank.

It’s frustrating, but probably worth pushing through—especially since you’ve got a lot on the line. Curious, are you doing this flip solo or with a partner?

@Marc Shin

Hey Marc — great question. If the long-term rent matches what you’re making on the short-term side and the tenant is solid, locking in a year of guaranteed income could definitely be worth it—especially if you’re looking for less active management.

In my experience, short-term guests cause more frequent turnover wear (like scuffed walls, lost utensils, etc.), while long-term tenants might cause more lived-in wear (like flooring, appliances, etc.), but it really depends on the person. If this tenant seems responsible and your unit is in good shape, it could be a nice move toward stability without sacrificing income.

What’s your long-term goal with the property—passive income, appreciation, or flexibility