All Forum Posts by: Travis Biziorek

Nicholas makes a great point—having strong ties to a market definitely helps, and picking a random low-cost market without a network can be tough. But if you’re set on going out of state, I’d recommend checking out Detroit.

I’ve been investing there since 2019 and currently hold 12 doors. Detroit stands out because of its affordability, strong rent-to-price ratios, and a market that’s seen steady appreciation over the last several years. The city has a lot of momentum with major developments, population growth, and continued investment in infrastructure.

That said, it’s not without challenges. Detroit requires strong local relationships to navigate things like neighborhood nuances and property management effectively. But with the right team, it can be a great market for cash flow and long-term appreciation.

If you’re interested in learning more, I’m happy to share some resources. Just shoot me a DM.

Trying to “focus” on multiple markets at once is kinda an oxymoron—by definition, you’re not really focusing. The biggest gains come from going all-in on one market and really getting to know it inside and out. The deeper your market knowledge, the stronger your relationships with agents, contractors, and lenders, and the better your deals will get over time. Good luck trying to replicate that across multiple markets.

If a market is working for you and aligns with your goals, why change it up? There’s no real reason to jump into another market unless your goals shift and your current market doesn’t fit anymore—or if the market itself stops producing the results you need.

Mastering one market and squeezing every opportunity out of it is a much better play than spreading yourself too thin and getting half-baked results in multiple places.

Saul, Phoenix and Vegas are popular markets, but I’m not sure they’ll actually cash flow well with today’s prices and interest rates. I live in California (Central Coast) and have built a 12-door portfolio in Detroit, which has been a great market for both cash flow and long-term potential.

Detroit still offers properties well below the $150k mark, with strong rent-to-price ratios and a market that’s seeing growth in key areas. It’s one of the few places where you can realistically achieve solid returns without needing a massive upfront investment.

If you’re open to exploring other markets, Detroit might be worth considering. Let me know if you’d like more insight!

Diana, you’re absolutely right that finding a solid team is crucial when investing out of state. The Midwest, including cities like Detroit, offers some of the best opportunities for affordable properties with strong rent-to-price ratios. Since you’re based in NY, Detroit is just a short flight away, making it feasible to visit and get a feel for the market and the team you’d be working with.

That said, I’ve worked with plenty of investors who have never actually visited and still built successful portfolios—it really comes down to having the right boots on the ground. Doing thorough research, understanding the market dynamics, and having a team you can trust are key. I personally invest in Detroit and have built a solid process to help others navigate the market, from sourcing deals to property management.

If you’re interested, I’m happy to share more about what we do and how we can help. Feel free to reach out if you’d like some additional resources or guidance on getting started.

Hey Jhamari,

I'm a licensed agent in Michigan, but I don't focus on MLS deals. My team and I specialize strictly in off-market properties in Detroit, helping investors source high-quality deals that align with their investment goals.

I lived in the Detroit area from 2017 to 2022, actively investing and building my portfolio, and I still hold 12 doors there while now living in California. Over the years, I’ve developed deep local knowledge of the market and built a solid team to assist with everything from property acquisition, renovations, and ongoing property management.

If you’re serious about investing in Detroit, here’s some helpful reading to get you started:

• Detroit Real Estate Overview: https://www.buyingdetroitrealestate.com/detroit-real-estate-investing/

• Section 8 Investing in Detroit: https://www.buyingdetroitrealestate.com/section-8-investing/

If you’d like to chat more about how we can help, you can book a time here:

https://calendly.com/tbiziorek/20min-detroit-re-chat

Looking forward to connecting!

Best,

Travis

Yes, I want people to be successful. 

It's a challenging enough market with an abundance of bad actors. Can't change Detroit if we aren't being the change, right?

Hey Leon,

I’ve been investing in Detroit since 2019 and have built a full team on the ground that handles everything from sourcing properties to contractors and internal property management. I lived in Detroit from 2017 to 2022 and now live in California, but I still hold a 12-door portfolio there. Having the right team in place is key to navigating the market effectively and avoiding common pitfalls.

Happy to discuss if you’d like—let me know!

Hey Rosa, I know you don't want to hear this because you're financially inclined to believe he isn't... but Drew is correct on all accounts.

The reality is you were sold a bum deal and easy system/profits via Martel Turnkey. You should never have been trying to make this property work as a 2-unit investment. But for some reason, Martel Turnkey didn't warn you against it.

In fact, they probably sold you most of the points you're trying to make.

Drew knows the market in Detroit extremely well, as do I. He does not need to back up his claims with specific pricing, etc. because it's very obvious that he's right to anyone that's familiar with the Detroit market.

And your responses seem to insinuate that you know better, yet you aren't providing specifics yourself. The burden of proof here is not on Drew, but rather the person (you) trying to push an "investment" that's a complete lemon.

I truly hope you get out of this with minimal losses.

I appreciate that. 

Wasn't trying to call you out. I just like to keep the record straight. I'm always very transparent about my experience, living in Detroit, the pros AND the cons to investing there.

Don't want people think I'm hiding something by omitting any of it.

 Gotta work on that reading comprehension, Drew.

The second and third sentences of my post are literally:

"I lived in Detroit for 5 years before moving out of state, and during that time, I built a strong network of contractors, handymen, and other boots-on-the-ground contacts. Without that network, self-management would have been nearly impossible for me."

I'm not the type to leave out key information.