Columbus is still one of those rare markets where you can hit aggressive spreads while also benefiting from strong macro growth, so it’s a great place to deploy capital efficiently.

AI hasn’t replaced underwriting, but it’s become a really efficient first-pass deal filter.

I add in a time urgency factor.

Bad phone numbers and deceased owners kill efficiency.

The biggest factor is having solid boots on the ground who live and work in that area. 

Basic, but functional faucet.Appliances ($3,500):Focus on essential replacements.Refrigerator: Energy-efficient model.Range: Standard electric or gas range.Dishwasher: Basic model.Consider deals, scratch-and-dent appliances.Lighting ($1,000):Recessed lighting in the ceiling.Under-cabinet lighting.Basic pendant lights over the island.Paint & Trim ($500):DIY painting.New baseboard.2.

(Then we’d just start a commune, I guess.)The Setup: Living My Best (Small) LifeI bought a 2BD/1BA home with a private efficiency studio.

Ongoing costs: you are spreading fixed costs across more unitsInsuranceProperty taxesExterior maintenanceCapital expendituresMore units under one roof usually means more efficiency.3.

It’s useful for preliminary deal analysis and underwriting (running quick scenarios, organizing assumptions, and pressure-testing numbers quickly).There are also more research-focused AI tools now that help summarize market data, zoning regulations, and economic trends so you can process information more efficiently. 

They’re efficient.