T&H Realty Services Blog

We work with numerous investors on a weekly basis, many of whom are new to the Indianapolis market, or are new to REI in general.

If you find yourself in one of those categories, you’ve probably asked the question, “Where should I invest in Indianapolis?”

While we’ve touched on this topic in a previous blog, we thought it was time to dive a little deeper.

We’re going to breakdown the Central Indiana market for you, township by township.

We hope this series will offer some insight into what Indianapolis has to offer, and will help you determine the best area to invest in for your goals and strategy.

First up, Washington Township.

Now, our office happens to be located here, so we may be a little biased, but we had to start somewhere!

**Note: This blog was updated - again - on June, 2019, to reflect new changes to the Sheriff Sale.**

This is a topic I’m shocked has taken us so long to blog about.

We’ve been attending the Marion County Sheriff Sale since 2005.

And - wow - do we have stories to tell.

Lot’s of them, which we may decide to do in future blogs.

But, to start, I thought I would use this blog to discuss the basics of the Marion County Sheriff Sale.

Sort of a “Marion County Sheriff Sale for Dummies” blog.

Note: I’m obviously not a lawyer, not an expert on foreclosures, so I’ll provide a VERY basic overview of the process.

If you’ve been investing in real estate for any period of time, or even if you’re just in the research phase, you likely know about property classes.

Just in case you’re brand new to REI and have no clue what I’m talking about, there’s an informal grading system that investors use to classify properties.

Yes, I mean literal grades such as an “A” property or “C” property.

I say it’s informal because everyone has their own variation and subjective opinions about what each grade constitutes.

One investor may think a property is a “B” class while another considers it a “C”.

Some grade on an A-B-C scale while others go all the way down to an “F”.

Some go even more in depth by adding pluses and minuses into the mix.

But with all that aside, at its core, the grading system is universally known and is an important factor to consider because each class represents a different level of risk and return.

As a company who manages mostly A/B properties, we are often asked what those types of properties look like.

So, we thought we would take some time to break down each class, provide some real life examples from right here in Indianapolis, and hopefully be able to help you determine which class of property best fits your investment goals.

For the purposes of this blog, we’re going to use an “A” through “D” scale.

In previous blogs, we’ve discussed how residential Property Management is consolidating and is, generally, getting more professional.

While there remain lots and lots of the classic Ma and Pops out there managing homes, Corporate America has taken a definite interest in our industry.

And, more importantly, Corporate America has entered markets offering a national presence.

It’s hard to tell, exactly, how things will progress from here, but the corporate trend has started.

And if you are an investor who uses a 3rd party property management company, you need to understand what this means to you and your investment.

Because, clearly, you now have a lot of choices when it comes to Property Management in Indianapolis.

When it comes to finding and purchasing rental properties, you want to ensure you have a knowledgeable, experienced partner to help you in your search.

Buying investment properties is a whole other ball game compared to simply purchasing a personal residence.

You have to think about the make-ready work, rent rates, cash flow, appreciation, crime rates, school districts, property taxes, etc, and how it will all fit in with your goals and strategy.

You also have to think about management. Are you going to self-manage or have a third-party handle that for you?

If you’re going to hire a Property Manager anyway, why wouldn’t you take advantage of using their brokerage services as well?

It makes sense on so many levels, and we’re going to discuss a few reasons why:

For the past several years, we’ve been a go-to Company for many investors around the world, all in search of the great real estate deals Indianapolis has to offer.

Indianapolis is, without question, a hot bed for real estate investment.

Everyone wants a piece of the pie, and what makes it even more difficult, is everyone wants the same piece of the pie.

There are hundreds, probably thousands, of investors with the same criteria looking for the same deals that you are.

Not only that, but when you’re dealing with A/B class properties, you also have to compete against a high volume of owner occupants.

So in essence, you have double the competition as other investors who are looking for homes in the C/D classes.