All Forum Posts by: Ryan Ramola

@Nicholas L. 

That makes a lot of sense—I definitely want to avoid being upside down or over-leveraged which has been my concern for the area. At the same time, I don’t want to get stuck in analysis paralysis or end up sitting on the sidelines too long. I haven’t really looked into off-market deals yet, mostly because I’m not sure where to start or how to find them.

@Nicholas L.

Unfortunately, the local real estate market has become quite challenging. Property values have appreciated significantly over the past four years—ours has nearly tripled in value since we purchased it in 2020. As a result, it’s been increasingly difficult to find properties that meet the 1% rule.

Being in a college town, rental demand is strong, with rooms typically renting for $700–$1,000 per month. However, most 2 bed, 2 bath homes are now priced at $250K or more. While there are more affordable options outside thof  city limits, those usually bring lower rental rates.

In short, it’s been tough to find good investment opportunities lately. I’d love to stay local if possible, but the current market conditions make that increasingly difficult.

@Jeremy Melloul Hey! Thank you so much! I would love to hear more about the area and your experience so far.

@Remington Lyman This is very helpful! I appreciate you sharing these areas.

@Mike Paolucci Thank you so much! I would love to hear some of your experiences and advice you have regarding OOS investments.

@Joseph Chiofalo Hey! Thank you so much! As of now, I do not have any specific properties I am looking at. Properties under 200k that can meet the 1% rule and have appreciation potential would be ideal candidates.

Hey everyone,

I’m based in Oxford, MS and currently exploring my first out-of-state rental investment, with Columbus, OH catching my attention as a potential hot spot. From what I’ve seen in other posts and market research, Columbus seems to have solid rental demand and relatively affordable entry prices, especially compared to many other metro areas.

Here’s my current situation:

• I own one property here in Oxford that was our primary residence for 2 of the past 5 years.

• It’s currently on the market for sale, and we’re estimating around $160K–$180K in equity.

• Since it was our primary for 2+ years, we’re hoping to avoid capital gains tax using the IRS exemption.

• If it doesn't sell, we're looking into options to pull out some of that equity (HELOC, cash-out refi, etc.) to reinvest and grow our rental portfolio. Currently we have a 5.375% interest rate.

My goal is to use this capital to pick up a rental or two in a market with good long-term potential, and Columbus keeps coming up as a solid choice.

I’d love to connect with:

• Anyone investing in the Columbus area — What neighborhoods should I be looking at?

• Other out-of-state investors — What advice do you have for managing properties from afar?

• Agents, wholesalers, or PMs with local knowledge — I’m open to deals or partnerships if they make sense.

Appreciate any input, stories, or recommendations. Just trying to build smart and learn from those who’ve been there.

Thanks!

— Ryan

@Melissa Justice Thank you! I am definitely open to exploring markets and going over numbers. Are there specific areas/markets that you would suggest over others?

@Taz Zettergren Thank you so much!

@Josh Kesselman I appreciate that insight. So if I am understanding correctly are you recommending selling and reinvesting into something else?