I’ll try to keep this practical rather than theoretical.Grand Rapids vs Columbus vs Kansas City tends to come down to a few trade-offs I’ve seen in real deals:Grand Rapids, MIGenerally lower entry pricing relative to rent than Columbus/KCStrong blue-collar + healthcare + manufacturing employment baseTaxes are higher than some Midwest markets, but insurance and maintenance tend to be more predictableI’ve seen solid Class B/B+ duplexes and small multis where cash flow holds up even with conservative leverageLess institutional competition than Columbus, which helps buyers not get bid up as aggressivelyColumbus, OHStrong population and job growth, but that’s widely known nowPricing has compressed faster, so you often need either more leverage or tighter underwriting to hit the same cash flow targetsStill a great market, just harder to find deals that truly improve return on equity without stretchingKansas CityGood balance of scale and liquidityMore investor-friendly taxes, but heavier competition in the better submarketsI tend to see better results here for investors comfortable with larger multifamily rather than small 2–4 unit propertiesFor a ~$600k exchange where the goal is preserve cash flow + improve ROE, I’ve found West Michigan works well when:you stay disciplined on submarket (working-class, low-crime pockets),underwrite expenses realistically,and have local management in place from day one.Happy to share more specific deal examples if helpful — a lot of it comes down to where in each metro you’re buying, not just the city name.

Not something you could have reasonably predicted or prevented.A few practical tweaks that do help deter this kind of booking: • Stronger rental agreement with clear no-party language and immediate termination rights (airbnb rules would support this too but I find a rental agreement can be a deterrent to party guests booking in first place)  • No one-night stays, especially on holidays and event weekends • Higher pricing on peak dates (not just for revenue—this filters guests) • More guest screening: ID verification, minimum age, confirmation of purpose of stay • Extra scrutiny for local bookings—those are often higher risk near bar districtsYou already had most best practices in place.

It gave us the opportunity to practice analyzing the numbers on an actual property.  2.

These other 2025 moving trend studies seem to've not put Oregon as the national lead for inbound movers, though included as one of the top ten in one of the studies...https://www.pods.com/blog/moving-trendshttps://www.movebuddha.com/blog/moving-trendshttps://murphymovers.com/blog/2025/july/where-are-americans-moving-in-2025-moving-trends-relocation-hotspots

In my case, management fees and/or vendor payments are withdrawn by mid-month but they refuse releasing funds until the very last day.Is that practice normal?

From her perspective, a small increase is often more cost-effective than relocating, which would involve a new application, moving expenses, a new deposit, first month’s rent, and additional fees such as insurance or a resident benefit package.To help offset the increase and encourage tenant retention, you might consider offering a small improvement, such as updated light fixtures or another minor upgrade, that adds value to the property and enhances the tenant’s experience.

I bring a practical, investor‑minded approach to every property I manage.

A few practical tips for your area and strategy: • Know Calumet City rents and realistic ARVs block by block • Build relationships with local inspectors and contractors • Understand Section 8 inspection standards ahead of time • Keep solid reserves, especially with older housing stock • Do not over leverage just because numbers look good on paper The investors who scale successfully in the south suburbs treat this like a business.

I should try that on my self as practice.

When I started many years ago, it was standard practice to stay away from rentals that had pools.