All Forum Posts by: Taz Zettergren

@Diedrich Wiebe

welcome to BiggerPockets and congrats on getting your U.S. LLC set up! That's a big step and shows you're serious about building a solid foundation.

I saw you’re focused on affordable turnkey properties under $100K, especially in Section 8-friendly markets like Jackson. While that price point can be appealing, we’ve found that homes in that range often come with higher maintenance costs, more resident turnover, and management challenges, especially for remote or first-time investors. That’s why our company focuses on renovated properties in more stable, suburban neighborhoods, typically in the $180K–$300K range. These attract a more consistent resident base and tend to perform better long term, both in cash flow and appreciation.

We work with many out-of-state investors using DSCR financing and have a full team in place, from acquisitions to property management, to support you every step of the way.

If you'd like to chat through your goals or compare notes on different markets, feel free to DM me. Always happy to be a resource.

Wishing you success on your first deal!

 @Gal Dagan

welcome and congrats on taking the leap with your wife into real estate investing!

You’re doing the right thing by asking these questions early. Market analysis can definitely feel overwhelming, but keeping it simple helps: focus on population growth, job opportunities, rent-to-price ratios, and landlord laws. Whether you’re investing locally or out of state, those fundamentals matter most.

Starting locally has big advantages, you can see the properties yourself, build relationships with local agents and contractors, and learn the ropes firsthand. But if your local market doesn’t offer the returns you need, it’s totally possible to succeed out of state, as long as you have a trustworthy team on the ground.

If consistency is a big priority for you, I’d suggest considering the Mid South, places like Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Prices are more affordable, landlord laws are friendly, and rental demand is strong. Median home prices often sit around $200K and you’ll find a nice balance of steady yield and long-term growth. I’d be happy to chat more about what that could look like in practice if you're curious.

Good luck, excited to see where your journey takes you!

@Chris Mclaughlin

Hey Chris, sounds like you’re approaching this the right way, being thoughtful, evaluating the numbers, and leveraging your familiarity with Philly. That said, if you’ve been digging for a while and nothing is penciling out, it might be time to adjust expectations or broaden your criteria.

Don’t feel pressure to rush into a market just because it’s familiar. There’s no shame in taking your time to find the right fit, especially with your first deal. That said, I’d encourage you to at least explore other regions, particularly the middle southern part of the country (think Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma). These are landlord-friendly states with much more affordable entry points. Median home prices in the $200K range are common, and because of tight supply, demand tends to stay strong. That creates a healthy balance between yield and long-term growth.

If you ever want to talk through what investing in those markets looks like, I’d be happy to share what I’ve learned.

@Dalton Long

Dalton, respect to you for being so focused and forward-thinking at 17. That mindset alone puts you way ahead of the game.

One thing that helped me early on with building credit: once you're 18, consider getting a secured credit card or a low-limit starter card. Use it for everyday purchases like gas or groceries, but treat it like a debit card, pay it off in full every month. That consistency really adds up fast on your credit report.

Another option, some banks offer small personal loans ($1,000–$5,000). Taking one out and paying it off over 6–12 months is another solid way to establish credit history.

On the networking side: you're already in the right place. BiggerPockets is gold for learning and connecting. Keep posting, join local meetups or REI groups when you can, and just stay curious.

You’re off to a strong start, keep soaking up knowledge and asking questions. It compounds just like real estate.

It's a great place to invest, prices and law are much more friendly and I know you've got connections here. Feel free to reach out when the timing is right, I'd be happy to help any way that I can

@Ryan Ramola 

Heck of a way to start, congrats on the first deal, Ryan!

I played ball down in Oxford during the Freeze era and still miss it. Great place and even better people. I’m also an investor and love helping others navigate the journey, especially when scaling from that first property. Sounds like you’ve got a strong start with solid equity and cash flow.

If you ever want to bounce ideas or talk strategy, happy to connect. Always learning from others on here too.

@Antonio Waller

Great question and one that a lot of new investors wrestle with.

If you're looking to invest passively and want a more hands-off experience, I’d recommend working with a company that fully owns the process from start to finish: acquisition, renovation, placement of a resident, and long-term management. True turnkey providers typically offer warranties on their renovations, preferred lending relationships with competitive rates, and most importantly, a consistent system that minimizes your risks.

If a company doesn’t control all those aspects, then it’s not truly turnkey and at that point, you might be better off buying through a local agent, assembling your own team, and accepting the added responsibilities and risks that come with that route. This route isn't as passive and comes along with more risk unless you have the right partner to start with.

It really depends on your goals, time availability, and how involved you want to be.

Best of luck as you explore your options! 

@Sushree Mohanty

Great to hear you and your husband are looking to scale with the BRRRR strategy. When it comes to Midwest markets, I'd recommend looking into areas like Memphis, TN and Little Rock, AR. Both offer favorable entry prices, solid rental demand, and are known for being landlord friendly states.

That said, the market is only part of the equation your success is really going to depend on who you partner with. Whether it’s your agent, property manager, or general contractor, having a reliable, experienced team on the ground is critical, especially for out of state investing. A good team not only helps mitigate risk but also keeps your project on timeline and budget.

If you ever want to chat more about investing in these areas or how to evaluate potential partners, feel free to reach out. Happy to help however I can!

Best of luck as you begin your journey!

@Marisa Opp 

Hey Marisa, welcome to the community and great job taking the first step!

Are you looking to invest actively, doing/managing the hands-on work yourself or more passively, where someone else handles the heavy lifting and you focus on strategy? Also, are you planning to invest locally or are you open to out of state opportunities?

Getting clear on those two things will help guide you and others for their opinion on how to help. 

@Gp G..   

I know a lot of investors are still chasing the 2% rule, but just to set expectations realistically, that’s incredibly rare in today’s market unless you're in heavily distressed areas or working with extreme value add deals. Most stable markets with decent neighborhoods are closer to the 1% rule and even that often puts you in less desirable areas with trade offs in consistency and long term stability.

If your goal is consistency and scalability, I’d recommend aiming around the median-priced home in any given market. Those tend to attract better long term residents and have lower turnover and maintenance issues, rents tend to be around .7-.8 in these areas.

In leveraged real estate, cash flow is just one small piece of the puzzle. Between debt service, insurance, taxes, management, and upkeep, true cash flow often doesn’t show up until the property's been held long term or is paid off, that's when you truly cash flow. Equity growth, rent growth, tax benefits, and principal paydown are what drive real wealth, not just the monthly spread.

Hope that gives a little clarity as you plan your next moves. I'd recommend the Midsouth markets because they're affordable, they're landlord friendly states and there's high demand for high quality homes. Best of luck!