timing is everything in this market, especially with how fast deals move these days.

This was also when large VA teams became the norm—at one point, I managed 50+ cold callers.2022: Texting Boom and Bust: Text blasting became the next big channel until saturation, lawsuits, and regulation (A2P 10DLC compliance) took hold.

Have a reliable local team—property manager, realtor, contractor—before committing.

Also, having a reliable local team is key.

we  are CANADIAN  and have been investing   in  the us for10  years now   work in  Detroit/Toledo area where  we have  great  teams on the  ground  more   then willing  to  share what we  have learnt with anyone who wants toc hat

Door knocking and mailing the neighbors is another strategy to see if they know anyone wanting to move there. 

This property will serve as: Our first house hack/ homeA wedding gift for my (future wife)A long-term investment  Our Goal  Buy a move-in-ready duplex — avoiding heavy fixer-uppers.Live in one unit and rent out the other to lower our housing costs.Focus on safe, rental-friendly neighborhoods with strong appreciation potential.Live for cheap (not necessarily free) by renting the other unit to offset the mortgage.I plan to live in duplex for at least five years or even more, and during that time, I also want to purchase additional properties to build my portfolio.

Excited to see you go after a duplex/triplex/quad next, those can really move the needle.

They don't properly research & align:Neigborhood ClassProperty ClassTenant ClassPMC ClassContractor ClassSo, they often buy a Class C property, in a Class D Neighborhood, hire a Class B PMC to manage it, then have a Class A contractor do over-the-top renovations/repairs - and expect Class A results.When the Class of all these moving parts don't properly align, it is often a disaster.

I would really look to online lead sources and mailing, those are really going to move the needle.