I recently worked with a California homeowner who completed a 1031 exchange into two long-term rental properties in the Grand Rapids, MI area.The goal was to reposition equity from a higher-cost market into Midwest rentals with more stable cash flow, while coordinating both acquisitions and financing remotely.We focused on rent-ready properties rather than heavy rehabs, and structured the purchases together to keep timelines aligned and reduce execution risk.Curious what others are seeing right now in Grand Rapids in terms of pricing, rent-to-value ratios, or investor demand compared to prior years.

Curious to hear from other investors on this.For those holding newly built homes (2023–2026 builds), are you self-managing or using a property manager?

.- Walmart has just opened up a brand new distribution center consisting of 2.6 million square feet, and provides more than 750 new jobs.Economic Information -The City of Mobile has seen extensive revitalization and tremendous economic growth:Business/Corporate Sector- Construction of a new Airbus jet assembly line at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley should move forward rapidly during the coming year.

You'll see real estate professional status (REPs) and materially participating talked about a lot on here and they can have a much bigger impact than simply taking standard deductions, but careful planning and clean bookkeeping are essential to maximizing after-tax returns.You’ll want to start building your team early, a real estate agent in the area you decide you're interest in (maybe Cedar Rapids), lender, and CPA who specializes in real estate (to make sure you’re maximizing opportunities and not missing anything).

The shift is intentional as I’m prioritizing capital preservation, lower downside risk, markets with less regulatory volatility and lower disaster risk, and long-term holds rather than rapid scaling.What I’m struggling with is that from all of the research I’ve done, this return seems too low for all-cash.

Seems like to two separate houses and one built in 1920 might have been tough to push through underwriting. 

These were Class B / B+ long-term rentals in Grand Rapids suburbs (not Class C).The goal was stable tenants, lower management friction, and predictable cash flow rather than max yield.

Given the rapid appreciation and then rate-driven shifts, we’ve seen in the last few years, it feels like future value has become much harder to predict than in earlier cycles.  

You bring deep MLS access, market expertise, and established professional networks, while I've developed systems around rapid cash closings, and comprehensive renovation vision—particularly for properties requiring substantial work that might intimidate traditional buyers.I'd welcome the opportunity to exchange insights about our respective approaches.

How do MI markets like Grand Rapids compare with other popular midwest markets such as Columbus OH and Kansas City?