The Top Mistakes to Avoid When Expanding Into a New Market

In this episode of The Multifamily Investor Playbook, Mark Faris and John Makarewicz unpack the biggest mistakes operators make when entering new markets — and share the proven process they use at Faris Capital to scale safely and profitably. From Atlanta to Charleston, they reveal why market research must come before the deal and how the right team on the ground can give you a decisive edge. What you’ll learn: ✔ Why skipping deep market research is the fastest way to crash in a new market ✔ How hyper-local factors like crime rates, rent control, and eviction laws impact returns ✔ Why boots-on-the-ground research beats “deal-first” underwriting every time ✔ The importance of conservative rent growth assumptions (and how CoStar data guides projections) ✔ How local partners — property managers, GCs, attorneys — make or break execution ✔ Why brokers often choose prepared buyers over higher offers If you’re looking to expand into new markets — or want to avoid the costly mistakes that knock investors out of the game — this episode gives you the framework to protect downside and invest with confidence. Want to invest with us? Visit fulloutinvesting.com to explore our 10-step process and current offerings.