All Forum Posts by: Sam McCormack

Hi everyone! I recently came across a property near the international airport that seems to have good cash flow potential. I'm curious to hear from those who have invested in airport-adjacent properties for the long term — how has your experience been? Also, for anyone who considered it but chose not to proceed, what made you decide against it? I'd really appreciate hearing both the pros and cons of investing in properties near airports.

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum and excited to start my real estate investment journey.  I would love to hear from seasoned investors about their experiences and advice.

Hi BP Community 👋,   

This is my first post here on BiggerPockets, and I’m really excited to be part of this community! I’ve been reading a ton of great advice and learning from many of you, and I’m now at a stage where I’d love to join the conversation, connect with others, and continue learning.

I’m actively exploring out-of-state rental investment and would love some insights and guidance from this awesome network. I’m evaluating a positive cash-flowing rental properties (nothing crazy here) with solid long-term appreciation potential. Open to both single-family homes and small multifamily (like a duplex), depending on market dynamics and returns. My plan is to invest out-of-state with local property management in place, and I’m open to turnkey properties as long as the fundamentals make sense. I’m looking at properties where I can put down 20–25% (~$80K including closing costs), ideally in neighborhoods that are stable and seeing some upward momentum without pricing me out on day one. 

Markets I’m considering and the reasons:

1. North Dallas-Fort Worth, TX – A competitive and maturing market, but with continued population and job growth.

2. Huntsville/Birmingham, AL – More affordable entry points and promising rent-to-price ratios.

3. Ocala, FL – Growing steadily with some newer construction and rising rental demand. 

Would you look at any other that has this solid Hybrid market dynamics? Indiana / Ohio? I am open to your ideas and thoughts so please suggest.

If you have insights into:

✅ Neighborhoods to target (or avoid)

✅ What’s working well for you in these markets

✅ PM recommendations or investor-friendly agents

✅ Risks I should be aware of in each area

✅ Recent deals that might help me benchmark returns

…I’d be incredibly grateful! Please feel free to comment or DM if you’re active in these markets — I’d love to learn more. Thanks in advance for the help!

Cheers,
Ven Perla

Hello my name is Tresor I live in Cincinnati I am new to real estate investment and looking to connect with local investors  

Hey guys I'm new to the forum and was curious on the Sacramento area and more. I have basic knowledge as I've been researching for about 2 months now but I feel like I'm stuck in paralysis by analysis. I have capital but am mainly looking to use hard money lenders to fund my investments. 

Any investor friendly agents willing to work with me to help look for good deals and any good hard money lender recommendations?

Quote from @Sam McCormack:

Quote from @Chase C Henderson:

Hey Cody,

Always nice to see another "younger" investor coming into BP. It's great to hear you already had some success an as an investor. I assume your Norris Lake project is a STR. How is that project doing?

Hope to see you around in Cincinnati and maybe catch you at a local real estate investor meet up!

 it's always a good feeling seeing other young investors. I feel like I have been seeing it more and more recently to be honest. Connecting with others around the same age is always nice. We are normally facing the same issues. Love to see it!

 Totally agree. 

The more and more I connect with our generation the more I see how many of us are facing the same issue and hungry for ***pick your buzz word*** "financial peace, escape the rat race, become an investor, etc".

I think it's because our generation has seen so much economic change and volatility in our life time, many of us are desperate to take control.

What's your thoughts? Why do you think so many young investors are stepping forwards?

Looking to invest in different cities and states. Primarily fix and flips. Looking at Columbus, Youngstown, Dayton, Ohio. Also, looking at other Midwest markets. I have one city so far where I have a handyman, general contractor, property manager I trust. How do I build a team in other cities and states? I don’t want to be limited to just one city. Also, how do I find a good investor friendly real estate agent that can help me make offers on flip opportunities and also actively look for them. I normally look for houses under $100,000 and perhaps agents view it as a waste of time because they don’t make that much money from it. 

Hey all,

I am in the early stages of preparing an out of state property for sale, and I am curious about which real estate markets have the best ROI/CAP rates etc. I live in the Bay Area and a few years back, I inherited a condo unit in Chicago with an existing tenant that did not cash flow. I'm just coming up for air after a brutal ~8 month long eviction process (nonpayment of rent), and I am realizing the numbers don't make sense to rent again given market rates in the area are lower than costs to keep the place up (mortgage + monthly assessment + repairs + insurance). Also HOA is quite restrictive, so there's little potential to be creative with my rental strategy with a short- or mid-term rental. There is equity in the property and the realtor estimates my net at close would be ~$75K. Thoughts on which markets to look next? I don't want to invest in a condo again - open to single-family standalone homes, multi-family, short- and mid-term rentals. Also very open to rent to Section 8 tenants.

Hello BiggerPockets, 

I need advice (and a better realtor!)

First time poster. I'm a 25 y/o young investor looking to purchase my first house hack. I've been reading the books, and doing the research, but what I'm reading isn't matching up with what I'm seeing. 

Analyze this deal with me: 

240k purchase price, 2bd 1 ba duplex. ~800 feet per side with a basement. 

My lender came back with a ~$1900 a month mortgage price using a 3.5% down FHA loan. 

One side currently rented for ~$950, based on rentometer I'm guessing I can pull around $1100. I believe my interest rate is a 6.25% with no points.

We'd live there for ~a year, then move to buy another house hack and hope to profit from this one. 

Based on the numbers - mortgage (taxes+insurance) alone is ~$1900, potential rental income from both sides is ~$2200, so $300 in "net" (yes, I know I need to put money aside for capex and vacancy and maintenance- I'm a handy guy so hoping to save a bit on that) 

Factoring in maintenance capex vacancy etc. purchasing this property would basically generate little to no profit. (Right?) Problem is, these types of "deals" are ALL I'm seeing. Family, friends, coworkers, basically everyone is telling me that it's not possible to profit on a house hack in this market. We're currently renting and I desperately want to stop throwing my money away. 

My realtor made me sign an exclusive contract that isn't up until July (my mistake) and he's not been the most helpful. He is encouraging me to stretch more to buy properties that are expensive like this where I'd lose money because he's speculating that rates will go down, and keeps telling me to stop reading biggerpockets books (lol). I think he just wants me to buy something and leave him alone. I don't think buying on speculation alone is smart, but I know the housing market is crazy right now.

Can someone give me some advice? I'm looking for what I would need to be considered a good deal (the number where I landed is total rental income-mortgage payment=$500+) and what you all set aside for capex and maintenance in Columbus? I just want a property that can generate me about $300-$500 of *profit* a month, so I can achieve my goals with my wife and eventually start a family.

REALTORS- if you have done house hacking or own a bunch of rental properties let me know! Judging by your response I will likely pick a new realtor for when my contract is up from this forum.

Thanks all!

@Sam McCormack

Hi Sam, We currently use the services with Agora Realty Group with Monika K. and have been happy with her service. She has been great to work with.