Is BRRRR Dead? What to Do When Your Local Market Starts Listing $500K “Fixer-Uppers”

But What About Appreciation?

Yes, appreciation in the Midwest or Southeast might not mirror the swings you see in coastal markets, but try telling that to Marcus. He’s an IT consultant from New Jersey who bought three single-family homes in Jacksonville, Florida, using Rent To Retirement.

Each home costs between $210,000 and $240,000. In under two years, rents increased by 15% to 20%, and Marcus was able to complete a cash-out refinance and acquire another duplex in Missouri. He jokes that his properties are multiplying like rabbits—except these rabbits pay rent and never complain about HOA newsletters.

It’s Not Just About Price. It’s About the Rules.

Imagine buying a fourplex in your city, spending $40,000 on renovations, and just as you’re about to raise rents, the city passes a rent control ordinance that freezes everything. Welcome to being a landlord in a market that treats you like a villain.

This is why landlord-friendly markets matter.

Rent To Retirement focuses on cities where you can be a landlord. Places where:

• Lease violations are enforceable.
• Property taxes are reasonable.
• Evictions don’t require a legal drama series.

How This All Works Without Losing Your Mind

The No. 1 objection to out-of-state investing is usually, “I don’t want to manage a property I can’t drive to.” That’s a valid concern, which is why Rent To Retirement connects you with experienced property managers, lenders, contractors, and agents already working in those markets. They have done all the vetting for you, so you don’t need to spend hours on Zoom calls trying to figure out if the contractor you found on Facebook Marketplace isn’t going to end up working out.

You don’t have to memorize the ZIP codes of Little Rock or learn the difference between zoning overlays in Tulsa. You just need to understand the numbers and rely on the team that lives there and manages the day-to-day.

This is not a house-flipping fantasy. This is long-term investing with:

• Real cash flow
• Lower entry costs
• Teams in place to manage the messes

So What Now?

If you are frustrated or stuck or one HOA meeting away from giving up, take it as a sign. The dream of owning rentals that cash flow is not dead. It just moved.  

Rent To Retirement helps investors find properties in markets where the math still works. They’ve helped thousands of people build portfolios in places they never thought to look.

Check them out. Look at their markets. Run the numbers. Investing is not just about sticking to your ZIP code. It is about sticking to what works.