The Cincinnati Real Estate Investing Show

Slocomb Reed is the host of the Cincy REI Show, a partner at Three Little Pigs Investment Services, and has 12+ years investing block-by-block across Cincinnati's most nuanced neighborhoods. He hosted 400+ episodes of the Best Ever CRE Show before launching the Cincy REI Show with co-host Ian Cruz, a CPA and co-GP across 200+ units in Cincinnati. In this episode, they put that combined experience to work building a Cincinnati-specific list of the 17 biggest mistakes investors make in this market. No generic top 10 content. These are the things that actually cost people money here.They cover older mechanicals unique to Cincinnati's pre-WWII housing stock, location traps that spreadsheets miss, the property tax reassessment cycle, why the cheapest service providers cost the most in the long run, and the single most profitable operating principle in this market.If you are an out-of-state investor underwriting Cincinnati deals, the location section starting at mistake #9 is worth the listen alone.What you will learn:- Why no onsite laundry and missing parking kill leasing before it starts- How to identify foundation, galvanized steel, aluminum wiring, and knob and tube issues before you close- Why a sewer scope is non-negotiable on every deal regardless of property age- How Cincinnati's three-year property tax reassessment cycle can quietly destroy your underwriting- Why outsized spreadsheet returns are a red flag, not a win- How to engage a property manager early enough that they can actually protect you- Why disrespecting tenants is the most expensive mistake on this listIf this episode sharpened your Cincinnati due diligence process, share it with an investor who needs to hear it.🎙 Hosts: Slocomb Reed, Host, Cincy REI Show & Partner, Three Little Pigs Investment Services | Ian Cruz, Co-Host, Cincy REI Show & Partner, Three Little Pigs Investment Services🏙 Topics: Cincinnati Real Estate Due Diligence, Foundation Types in Cincinnati, Galvanized Steel and Aluminum Wiring, Knob and Tube Wiring, Sewer Scope Best Practices, Property Tax Reassessments in Ohio, Flood Zones in Cincinnati, Parking and Laundry as Leasing Factors, Neighborhood Micro-Location Analysis, School Districts and Property Values, Choosing Quality Service Providers, When to Engage a Property Manager, Over-Improving for the Location, Tenant Relations and ProfitabilityTimestamps:-00:00 - Introduction: Slocomb and Ian count down the 17 biggest Cincinnati REI mistakes-02:00 - #17: Not providing onsite laundry in multifamily-04:30 - #16: Not checking for parking-08:00 - #15: Not checking for flood zones-10:30 - #14: Missing foundation cracks-15:00 - #13: Missing galvanized steel plumbing-17:00 - #12: Missing aluminum wiring-20:00 - #11: Missing knob and tube wiring-24:30 - #10: Not getting a sewer scope-30:00 - #9: Assuming you are or aren't in Cincinnati-33:00 - #8: Assuming neighborhoods and zip codes are homogenous-36:00 - #7: Not checking for school districts-39:00 - #6: Letting your spreadsheet determine what you buy-43:00 - #5: Property tax reassessments-48:00 - #4: Choosing the cheapest service providers-52:00 - #3: Waiting too long to engage a PM-57:00 - #2: Over-improving for the location-60:00 - #1: Disrespecting your tenantsThe Cincinnati Real Estate Investing Show is hosted by Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz. New episodes every week. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share with a fellow investor.

JD Schmerge has brokered multifamily deals across Greater Cincinnati for over eight and a half years, first at Marcus & Millichap and now as co-founder of Sabre Group. He has seen the full cycle. He also just bought his first property, a 7-unit in South Covington, and spent year one learning what eight years of brokerage didn't teach him.In this episode, JD breaks down what the Cincinnati multifamily market actually looks like heading into the second half of 2026. We cover why Cincinnati didn't break when other markets did, how cap rate math in a seven to eight cap market behaves completely differently than a four to five cap market, and what low transaction volume actually signals for buyers who are still active.We also get into the renovation threshold conversation that every operator holding value-add multifamily needs to hear. JD explains why there's a specific range of unit renovation completion, roughly 10% to 70%, that maximizes your buyer pool and your exit cap rate. Renovate too little and you have no proof of concept. Renovate too much and you've eliminated the upside buyers are willing to pay a premium for.Ian and Slocomb bring their 70+ unit deal into the conversation directly. The takeaway: in this moment of the market cycle, C-class tenants are not paying more for upgraded kitchens and bathrooms. Affordability is the product. And the operators who understand that are positioning for a better exit, not a worse one.We also get into insurance underwriting for 1930s construction, Ohio's drop and swap property tax strategy and how long it may last, the 2023 triennial's 65% average assessment increase, and what to watch heading into 2026 reassessments.What you will learn:- Why Cincinnati's seven to eight cap market protected operators when rates hit six and a half percent- How two to three percent new construction keeps Cincinnati stable while other markets oversupply- The 10% to 70% renovation threshold and why going above 70% shrinks your buyer pool- Why C-class tenants are not paying rent premiums for updated units right now- How to underwrite insurance on 1930s construction and what JD's policy taught him- What drop and swap is and what the 2023 triennial actually looked like- What buyers and lenders need to see in the first 12 to 24 months to justify a cash-out refiTimestamps:00:01:00 - Guest intro: JD Schmerge00:03:00 - Cincinnati market overview 00:04:00 - Buyer behavior 00:06:00 - Why Cincinnati avoided distress00:07:30 - Cincinnati's supply discipline00:09:00 - A vs. C class bifurcation00:11:00 - JD's own 7-unit in South Covington00:12:30 - Leasing reality 00:13:30 - Rising operating costs00:14:30 - Covington insurance deep dive00:16:00 - Property tax comparison00:18:30 - Ohio property tax legislation00:19:30 - Drop-and-swap risk 00:21:30 - What makes JD buy a deal himself 00:23:30 - Parker Woods Flats (73 units) case study00:25:00 - Exit strategy: "sell the dream" 00:26:30 - Affordability priority 00:28:00 - Ops philosophy00:30:00 - Broker trend: partial renovation as proof of concept 00:32:00 - Slocomb's thesis on diminishing returns 00:34:00 - JD's rule of thumb 00:36:00 - Buyer profile shift 2021 vs. now 00:37:30 - Cincinnati hidden gems The Cincinnati Real Estate Investing Show is hosted by Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz. New episodes every week. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share with a fellow investor.

Bret Halsey came to Cincinnati to play soccer for FC Cincinnati. He left with 70 units, 14 four-family acquisitions, and a direct-to-seller cold calling operation built from scratch, after nine months of calls before landing his first deal.In this episode, Bret walks through how he identified Pleasant Ridge as his entry market, why he niched down on the 1960s brick bunker fourplex, and how he went from a single owner-occupant FHA purchase to flipping four-families as capital-raising vehicles for larger deals. He also tells the story of buying three Price Hill four-families at auction with no West Side experience, a six-month hard money loan, and a tenant who blew up one of the buildings.Slocomb adds the operator's perspective on why Cincinnati's fourplex stock is one of the most replicable investment vehicles in any Midwest market: galvanized steel plumbing, aluminum wiring, boiler conversions, cast iron tubs, ceramic tile set in concrete, and why the same architecture that caps your rent upside also makes these properties nearly bombproof to own and operate.We also cover why the 12-unit building in Cincinnati is the four-family's overlooked sibling, and why the owner-occupant buyer pool on the back end is what makes fourplex flipping work at a spread you can't find in commercial product.If you are trying to break into Cincinnati off-market investing, the cold calling framework Bret describes: niching by neighborhood, building a 500-contact database, adjusting his pitch based on the owner's profile, is as practical a blueprint as this show has produced.What you will learn:How Bret built a 500-contact, 120-lead database from the Hamilton County auditor's listWhy nine months of cold calling with no deal is normal, not a failure signalHow niching down to one neighborhood transformed Bret's underwriting confidenceWhy the 1960s brick bunker fourplex is the most replicable investment vehicle in CincinnatiWhat makes four-families viable for owner-occupants, house hackers, and investors, and why that dual buyer pool matters on the back endHow Bret used four-family flips to accumulate capital and scale into a 20-unitThe full mechanical breakdown on Cincinnati fourplexes: boilers, galvanized plumbing, aluminum wiring, baseboard heat conversions, and cast iron tubsWhy the 12-unit building shares nearly every operational characteristic as the fourplex,and why most investors overlook itWhat happens when a tenant turns on the gas in a vacant unit, and what RCV insurance actually means when you need itHow to adjust your cold calling pitch based on the seller's profile and portfolio size🎙 Guest: Bret Halsey, Real Estate Investor and Former FC Cincinnati Professional Soccer PlayerTimestamps:00:01:00 — Bret's backstory00:02:00 — Cold calling origins00:05:00 — Cold calling routine00:07:00 — Importance of niching down00:09:00 — Why four-families00:11:00 — Pivot: BRRRR to flip-and-scale00:13:30 — Four-family flip thesis00:19:00 — Financing advantage00:19:30 — 100% financing model00:25:00 — Negatives of four-families00:31:00 — Four-family valuation00:31:30 — Renovation playbook00:36:00 — 12-unit parallel00:39:00 — Missed deal lessons00:40:00 — Price Hill explosion00:43:00 — Why Pleasant Ridge00:46:00 — Cincinnati hidden gemsThe Cincinnati Real Estate Investing Show is hosted by Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz. New episodes every week. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share with a fellow investor.

Slocomb Reed Bought Brandon Turner's Distressed 24-Unit Apartment Using A Master Lease.. A Year after being the agent who sold it to him. Here's the full story 👇🏽In 2019, Slocomb cold-emailed Brandon Turner a BiggerPockets buy-and-hold report on an off-market deal in Cleves. Brandon replied in under an hour. Within days, Slocomb was representing him as a buyer's agent. A year later, Brandon was done with it, three property managers in 14 months, and he wanted out.The deal structure Brandon proposed: a master lease starting the day due diligence cleared. Slocomb and his partner took over operations, collected rent, handled maintenance, and started turning units, while Brandon continued paying the mortgage, taxes, and insurance. What you will learn:How Slocomb sourced a deal directly from Brandon Turner via a cold BiggerPockets emailWhat a master lease agreement looks like in practice and why both sides agreed in a heartbeatHow to reposition a distressed property before you own itWhy Cleves operates more like a tertiary market than a Cincinnati submarket, and why that works in your favorHow utility structure (water provider, electric vs. gas heat) directly impacts NOI and cap rateWhy $775 is a strong rent in Cleves and a warning sign in WestwoodThe Amazon wage effect and what workforce employment shifts mean for affordable housing demandWhy Three Rivers Schools drives rental demand from tenants who do not even live in the districtWhat transitions between property managers cost you, and how to protect yourself on day one📲 Follow @thecincyreishow so you never miss a conversation like this one. A five-star review helps us keep bringing neighborhood-level expertise to every episode.Timestamps:00:00 – Cold open: The master lease teaser00:45 – Welcome to the Cincy REI Show: The Brandon Turner episode02:00 – BiggerPockets era investing: What BP meant to investors who started 2012-201503:30 – The cold email: Slocomb hears Brandon on a Thursday morning podcast, builds a BP report, sends it to [email protected]:00 – Brandon replies in under an hour: "Can I call you in 15 minutes?"06:00 – Acting as Brandon's buyer's agent: Off-market, 24 units in Cleves, built in 197808:00 – Why Cleves acts like a tertiary market inside I-27510:00 – Why quality property managers wouldn't touch 24 small one-bedrooms 20+ minutes from everything else they manage12:00 – Brandon's three property managers in just over a year: What went wrong13:30 – Slocomb texts Brandon the moment he hears the outro mention15:00 – Being surrounded by single-family: Why isolation from other multifamily gives you pricing control17:00 – Cleves Water Works: Less than half the cost per volume of Greater Cincinnati Water Works18:30 – All-electric, no gas: Tenant-paid heat, landlord-paid water only20:00 – The master lease structure: Brandon proposed it, not Slocomb22:00 – Queen City Pulse: Banks development, Newport Steel site, Conrad in Miami Township, Walnut Hills LIHTC, Cincinnati Park Score24:00 – How the deal worked: Brandon pays PITI, Slocomb collects rent, pays utilities and maintenance, starts turning units26:00 – Purchase price increased by 3 months of mortgage payments: Why the math worked for both sides27:30 – 15 occupied, 9 rent-paying: What the first 30 days of operations actually looked like29:00 – "We were told no one would ever pay more than $575 in Cleves." Slocomb got $650 before he even owned it.30:30 – Amazon's distribution center and the wage floor shift in western Cincinnati33:00 – Why $775 works in Cleves but destroys NOI in parts of Westwood35:00 – Property manager transitions: Why the first 30 days cost the most and how to protect yourself37:00 – Three Rivers School District: Parents and grandparents renting one-bedrooms for the school address38:00 – Cleves hidden gems: Marilee's Hardware and Make A Mia Pizza39:00 – Closing thoughts and episode wrap

Joe Cornwell has done 140+ units of multifamily and is mid-construction on a 75,000 square foot mixed-use development built inside a 1905 theater in Reading, Ohio. He knows why infill development inside the 275 loop is structurally constrained, why the Reading Bridal District commands downtown Cincinnati rents four blocks long, and what separates operators who can pull off ground-up development from those who should not try.In this episode, Joe breaks down what vertically integrated development in Greater Cincinnati actually looks like in 2026. We cover why Reading is one of the most overlooked markets in Hamilton County, how a new CRA tax abatement changes the investment math, and why the two-bedroom two-bathroom floor plan is the rent-per-foot sweet spot in every B-class development he has underwritten.We also get into the realities of ground-up development: nine months under contract before knowing whether the deal would close, a floodplain surprise that wiped out 11,000 square feet of planned commercial space, and why mentors who reviewed the deal said the numbers worked but still asked why he was doing it.If you are an investor evaluating mixed-use or infill development in Cincinnati, the Reading Bridal District breakdown starting around the 15-minute mark is worth the listen alone. Joe explains exactly what makes that four-block corridor command rents comparable to the Banks, and why it stops the moment you step off Benson Street.What you will learn:- Why infill development inside the 275 loop is a barrier-to-entry play most operators cannot execute- How Reading's new CRA tax abatement changes the calculus for investors and developers- Why the two-two floor plan outperforms on rent per square foot in every B-class comp Joe has run- What FEMA floodplain compliance actually costs you when you are mid-development- How vertical integration in construction changes which deals pencil- Where to add a bathroom in Cincinnati's most common housing stock: Cape Cods, American Foursquares, and Pittsburgh-potty ranches; and which neighborhoods justify a full pop topIf this episode gave you a clearer picture of what development and value-add investing in Cincinnati actually looks like in 2026, share it with someone who needs to hear it.📲 Follow @thecincyreishow on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss a conversation like this one. Leave us a five-star review if we've added value; it helps us bring more operators like Joe to the show.Want to connect with Joe Cornwell or learn more about the Reading market? Tune in, take notes, and reach out through the show.Subscribe. Share. Invest smarter.🎙 Guest: Joe Cornwell | Founder, Realty One Stop & ROS Construction🏙 Topics: Ground-Up Mixed-Use Development in Reading Ohio, The Reading Bridal District Investment Case, Why Infill Development Inside 275 Is Structurally Constrained, Reading's New CRA Tax Abatement, The Two-Two Floor Plan as a Rent-Per-Foot Sweet Spot, FEMA Floodplain Compliance Surprises, Vertical Integration in Construction, Adding Bathrooms to Cape Cods and American Foursquares Across Cincinnati, What Makes a Development Deal Worth DoingTimestamps:01:16-02:25 - Joe's Background02:43-03:11 - Value Add Journey03:16-05:18 - The Reading Theater Project05:18-05:59 - Cincinnati Field Trip To Tour Chasing Cali05:59-17:02 - Bridal District Demand18:12-22:54 - Development Barriers 27:54-30:27 - Two-Bed/Two-Baths in Cincinnati 30:48-42:46 - Cincinnati Renovation Strategy 44:50-45:06 - Reading Is A Hidden Gem45:06-46:38 - Joe Cornwell's Favorite Cincinnati Hidden GemThe Cincinnati Real Estate Investing Show is hosted by Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz. New episodes every week. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share with a fellow investor.

Jeremy Komer is a Cincinnati-based real estate investor who specializes in value-add multifamily acquisitions in the city's older urban neighborhoods. Since pivoting from a career in aerospace after COVID, he has built a portfolio using nearly every financing tool available, from FHA house hacks to hard money, flips, and commercial construction loans, with a focus on forcing appreciation through creative deal structuring and density conversion.In this episode, Jeremy walks through one of his most complex deals: a direct-to-seller acquisition in Northside where he negotiated a creative parcel split, converted a neglected four-family into a six-unit, and navigated three rounds of Cincinnati's zoning variance process, all over a two-year period and just under $150,000 in total project costs.What you will learn in this episode:- How to find and negotiate directly with sellers, including a year of consistent follow-up before getting a yes- How to structure a parcel split to resolve a seller valuation gap without walking away from the deal- The three-stage Cincinnati zoning variance process and why you should expect to be rejected twice before getting approved- How a community petition helped win over the city's Plans Examiner- What changes when you cross from residential into commercial building code, and what will catch you off guard- How to use a commercial construction loan to avoid double closing costs on a value-add deal- What converting from four units to six units did to the property's appraised valueTimestamps:- 00:00 – Welcome & Live Mastermind Intro- 02:00 – Jeremy's Background: From Aerospace to Real Estate Investing- 04:30 – Finding the Seller: Cold Approach and a Year of Follow-Up- 07:00 – Negotiating the Parcel Split and the Valuation Standoff- 11:00 – How Cincinnati's Parcel Split Process Works (Costs, Steps & Risk)- 15:30 – The Shared Sewer Line Problem and How It Was Resolved- 20:00 – Why the Deal Was Worth the Due Diligence Risk- 23:30 – Deciding to Convert 4 Units to 6 — and the Value It Added- 27:00 – The Three-Stage Zoning Variance Process: Two Rejections Before Approval- 33:00 – How a Community Petition Won Over the Plans Examiner- 37:00 – Financing the Deal with a Commercial Construction Loan- 41:00 – Navigating Commercial Building Code for the First Time- 46:00 – Exterior Work, DOT Permits, and Blocking the Sidewalk- 50:00 – What Was Harder Than Expected- 54:00 – Final Numbers, BRRRR Recap, and Lessons for the Next DealThe Cincinnati Real Estate Investing Show is hosted by Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz. New episodes every week. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share with a fellow investor.

Lee Yoder is the founder of Threefold REI, a multifamily syndication company that acquires apartment complexes. Starting with a single house flip in 2017, Lee scaled to 930+ units and has taken three syndications full cycle. He builds his portfolio in small rural markets across Ohio and Indiana where institutional capital won't compete and runs his own in-house property management operation to maximize returns.In this episode, Lee Yoder joins hosts Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz to break down why he deliberately skips Cincinnati's most desirable properties to buy cash-flowing multifamily in small rural markets and how that strategy has consistently delivered better returns for his investors. Lee and the hosts also dig into the K-shaped rental economy playing out across Greater Cincinnati right now, what the spring 2026 market shift means for operators, and why bringing property management in-house changed everything for his portfolio.What You Will Learn- Why Lee avoids 100+ unit deals in major metros and how he competes by going where institutional buyers won't- The cap rate and cash-on-cash benchmarks Lee targets in rural Ohio vs. what Cincinnati deals are actually producing- How the K-shaped rental economy is splitting the market: Class A rents climbing while C-class one-bedrooms struggle- When to invest in unit renovations and when over-improving actually hurts your bottom line- What it takes to build operational expertise in a market you don't live in- Why Lee brought property management in-house and how it changed his incentive structure- What the late-March 2026 leasing surge looks like on the ground across Greater CincinnatiTimestamps:- 00:00 – Introduction & guest welcome- 02:15 – Lee's investing journey: From one flip to 930 units- 05:00 – Why Lee stopped chasing deals inside Cincinnati- 09:30 – How institutional buyers win on price and why you can't out-compete them- 13:00 – Going rural: Small markets, less competition, better yields- 17:00 – Two strategies for avoiding institutional competition (Lee's vs. Slocomb and Ian's)- 21:30 – Williamsburg, Ohio: Who lives there and why- 27:00 – Unit mix, current rents, and leasing conditions in spring 2026- 31:00 – East side Cincinnati oversupply and how new deliveries hit C-class occupancy- 36:00 – AI leasing tools, Rent Engine, and the late-March market shift- 42:00 – The K-shaped rental economy: Class A vs. C-class in Greater Cincinnati- 48:00 – When to renovate and when to leave it alone in affordable housing- 53:30 – Bringing property management in-house: The why, the when, and the tradeoffs- 59:00 – Cincinnati hidden gems: Bike trails and the Little Miami Scenic Trail- 63:00 – Final thoughts and listener CTAThe Cincinnati Real Estate Investing Show is hosted by Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz. New episodes every week. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share with a fellow investor.

In this LIVE episode, Slocomb Reed and co-host Ian Cruz sit down live at Cincinnati's Best Ever REI Mastermind meetup to talk about how they built their partnership from scratch, scaled from 8 to 100+ units, and saved a deal that was on the brink of not closing on time. They also share fresh Cincinnati rental market data straight from their proprietary web scraper and break down the leasing tactics landlords are using right now to stay competitive in a softening market.What You Will LearnHow to identify the four core GP roles: the Hammer, the Hunter, the Money, and the Brain, and why knowing which ones you fill is the key to finding the right partnerWhy Slocomb and Ian structured their partnership 50/50 and how their operating agreement handles decision-making to prevent deadlockHow to finance large multifamily deals using agency debt vs. local banks, and when to have a hard money backup readyThe full story of scrambling to close a 70+ unit deal after their agency lender nearly killed it with five days to spareWhat Cincinnati's rental market actually looks like right now: days on market, rent averages, absorption trends, and why Class A is outperforming Class B and CHow a 3-month promotional rent strategy can get a unit leased faster without permanently reducing long-term incomeWhy speed-to-lead, not concessions, is the biggest lever in leasing, and how AI tools are changing the game for property managersWhy out-of-state investors, especially from California, may get better returns as passive LP investors in Cincinnati multifamily than owning a single duplex remotelyTimestamps:00:00 – Welcome & Live Meetup Intro02:15 – About the Cincy REI Show and What Every Episode Delivers05:00 – Ian Cruz Introduction: From Venture Capital to Cincinnati Multifamily07:30 – How the TLP Investment Services Partnership Was Born10:00 – The 8-Unit Northside Deal: Testing the Partnership on a Real Property13:00 – Scaling to 73 Units and What a Fannie Mae Small Balance Loan Actually Looks Like17:30 – The $3M Hard Money Scramble: Saving the 73-Unit Close in Five Days24:00 – GP/LP Deal Structure: Roles, Equity Splits, and Investor Waterfalls30:00 – Why 50/50 Partnerships Work and How to Handle Disagreements35:00 – How to Spot Your Own Weaknesses and Know When You Need a Partner40:00 – Why Ian Chose Cincinnati and Sold a California 6-Unit to 1031 Exchange In44:00 – Live Cincinnati Market Data: Rentals vs. For-Sale Listings and Rent Trends50:00 – The K-Shaped Market: Why Class A Is Winning While Class B and C Soften54:00 – Leasing Strategies That Work Now: Promos, AI Speed-to-Lead, and Listing Quality60:00 – Closing Thoughts and Next Meetup AnnouncementFollow @thecincyreishow on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss a conversation like this one. Leave us a five-star review if we've added value.

Dylan Koch has done 300 off-market deals in Greater Cincinnati. He knows which neighborhoods require block-by-block analysis, why the sub-$250K ARV market is structurally supply-constrained, and what separates buyers who get deals from buyers who get ignored.In this episode, Dylan breaks down what wholesaling in Greater Cincinnati actually looks like in 2026. We cover where deal flow is strongest across Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, and Warren counties, how the buyer pool has shifted since the hedge fund era, and why markets like St. Bernard can swing dramatically within a few blocks.We also get into Ohio's new wholesale disclosure law (SB 155, effective March 2025) and what it means for buyers reviewing assignment agreements. Dylan walks through exactly what to look for in the original PSA before signing anything.If you are an out-of-state investor trying to break into this market, the role-play at the 39:00 mark is worth the listen alone. Dylan explains what he actually looks for when deciding which buyers get first call.What you will learn: Where Cincinnati deal flow is strongest by county and neighborhood in 2026-Why the sub$250K ARV segment remains one of the most competitive pockets in the marketHow SB 155 changed the disclosure requirements for wholesale transactions in OhioWhat buyers must verify in the original PSA before signing an assignment agreementHow to get on a serious wholesaler's buyer list as an out-of-state investorWhat makes a compelling buyer in 2026: cash, speed, experience, and relationshipsIf this episode gave you a clearer picture of what investing in Cincinnati actually looks like in 2026, share it with someone who needs to hear it.📲 Follow @thecincyreishow on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss a conversation like this one. Leave us a five-star review if we've added value; it helps us bring more expert operators like Dylan to the show.Want to connect with Dylan Koch or learn more about the Cincinnati market? Tune in, take notes, and reach out to the guests and hosts directly through the show.Subscribe. Share. Invest smarter.🎙 Guest: Dylan Koch: Founder, Morning Brew PropertiesTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction: Meet Dylan Cook, Morning Brew Properties02:10 – From pharmacy school to Cincinnati investor: Dylan's origin story05:30 – Going full-time in 2021: $30K spent before the first deal08:00 – 300 off-market deals: How the Cincinnati wholesale market has shifted11:15 – Who's buying now? Flippers vs. hedge funds vs. buy-and-hold investors13:40 – Where deal flow is strongest: Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, and Warren counties17:00 – The sub-$250K ARV sweet spot: Why supply is capped and demand keeps rising21:30 – Neighborhoods that require block-by-block analysis (Madisonville, Evanston, Avondale, Norwood, Redding)26:00 – St. Bernard: An underrated micro-market with sharp internal price swings28:30 – Advice for new investors: How to underwrite deals and move fast31:00 – Ohio's new wholesale disclosure law (SB 155): What buyers AND sellers need to know35:45 – Why you must always review the original PSA before signing an assignment agreement39:00 – Role play: How to get on a serious wholesaler's buyer list as an out-of-state investor45:30 – What makes the most compelling buyer: cash, speed, experience, and relationships49:00 – Why expert operators matter more than ever in 202652:30 – Cincinnati hidden gems: Arthur's Cafe, Skyline, and the staples54:00 – Closing thoughts and episode wrap

The short-term rental gold rush in Cincinnati is over, but the right operators are still printing cash. Yiwei Cheng, founder of Pink Cash Cow Property Management, manages 30 STR and furnished rental properties across greater Cincinnati and has seen the market shift in real time. In this episode she breaks down exactly what's working in 2026, which neighborhoods are being hit by bans, and what property specs actually matter when guests get picky.You'll hear Yiwei cover: Why the city of Cincinnati is legally protected for STRs while surrounding townships are banning them fast, the bedroom-to-bathroom ratio rule she never violates, the top amenities driving bookings (hint: it's not a hot tub), and how she took a township zoning battle all the way through two Ohio courts of appeal and won. She also shares the honest revenue reality: nightly rates are down, midterm rentals are filling the gap, and the casual host is getting priced out.If you're invested in, or thinking about, furnished rentals in Cincinnati, this is the most current, ground-level take you'll find.Follow @thecincyreishow and share this one with anyone in the STR space.00:00 Introduction: Slocomb and Ian introduce Yiwei Cheng and Pink Cash Cow Property Management02:10 Yiwei's origin story: Moving from California, accidentally starting on Airbnb after being stuck with two housing payments05:30 Early STR mistakes: Underpricing, no blinds, wrong location assumptions, and the first guest party disaster08:45 COVID pivot: Why downtown went quiet and suburban big homes took off11:20 What's working in 2026: The three factors that determine STR success: location, layout, and amenities14:00 Regulation breakdown: Cincinnati proper vs. townships, and which areas have recently banned STRs18:30 The Symmes Township lawsuit: How Yiwei fought a zoning battle through two Ohio courts of appeal and won 25:00 Northern Kentucky STR rules: Covington, Newport, Bellevue, and why NKY is pulling back27:30 Hamilton and Mason: Data center opportunity, midterm demand, and the King's Island market31:00 The hybrid STR/midterm strategy: When to push nightly rates vs. lock in longer stays 35:00 Revenue reality check: How rates have compressed since 2022 and what operators need to accept38:30 Top amenities that drive Cincinnati bookings: Parking, pools, hot tubs, and family-friendly features43:00 Review pitfalls: How to handle bad reviews and why heavy negotiators are your highest-risk guests46:30 Biggest Cincinnati events for STR demand: Blink, Oktoberfest, tennis tournament, hospitals, and year-round attractions52:00 Cincinnati hidden gems: Yiwei's restaurant picks including Salazar, Golden Hands Bakery, and Corner Dumpling House 54:30 Closing

What does it take to survive a real estate crash, rebuild from scratch, and come out the other side with a thriving portfolio? Jerry Garrison has done exactly that, and he's here to share every lesson.With two decades of experience as both an agent and investor in Greater Cincinnati, Jerry has seen these neighborhoods transform firsthand, from distressed and overlooked to some of the most sought-after zip codes in the city. In this episode, Jerry breaks down the arc of his investing journey, from a high-flying pre-2008 multifamily run that nearly broke him, to a disciplined single-family strategy centered on margins, geography, and repeat execution.We dig deep into the neighborhoods shaping Cincinnati real estate in 2026, including Madisonville, Fairfax, Evanston, Newport, and Northern Kentucky, and what strategies are actually working right now.In this episode:Whether you're new to Cincinnati real estate or looking to sharpen your strategy, Jerry's journey is a masterclass in resilience, market knowledge, and the power of showing up in the same neighborhood long enough for the deals to find you.🎙 Guest: Jerry Garrison, veteran Cincinnati realtor, investor, and house flipper with 20+ years in the market🏙 Topics: Surviving the 2008 crash · Single family buy and hold · Fix and flip margins · Fairfax neighborhood · Madisonville 2026 · Newport & Northern Kentucky · New construction on tight lots · Hyperlocal investing strategy00:00 - Introduction: Jerry Garrison's Cincinnati Real Estate Journey01:45 - From Corporate Life to Property Management & Real Estate Sales03:30 - 2008 Crash Survival: Lessons from Losing 100 Units06:15 - Transitioning from Multifamily to Single Family Investing08:00 - Why Geographic Focus Maximizes Real Estate Profits09:30 - Fairfax, Ohio: Hidden Gem Near Mariemont School District12:00 - Roof Pop Strategy: Turning 2/1s into 4/2.5s for Profit14:15 - Madisonville Buy & Hold: From $1,000 to $2,000+ Monthly Rent17:00 - Madisonville 2026: Value-Add Plays & Rising Property Taxes19:30 - Fairfax 2026: New Construction & Townhouse Style Builds22:45 - Crossing the River: Flipping Houses in Newport, Kentucky25:30 - Northern Kentucky vs. Cincinnati: Costs, Contractors & Taxes28:00 - Old Milford & Greater Cincinnati Real Estate Opportunities31:00 - Advice for New Investors in Cincinnati in 202634:30 - Cincinnati Hidden Gems: Little Miami River & City LifeThe Cincinnati Real Estate Investing Show is hosted by Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz. New episodes every week. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share with a fellow investor.

What does 300 funded real estate deals across Greater Cincinnati actually look like on a map?Grant Smith of Sharper Capital Partners has seen them all: flips, BRRRs, and everything in between. In this episode, he pulls up the data live and breaks down exactly which Cincinnati neighborhoods are producing the most activity, why some areas trend toward holding and others toward selling, and what separates the investors who are winning from the ones who aren't.We also cover:→ Why Kennedy Heights is the hottest flip market right now→ The Hamilton vs. Middletown divide (BRRR vs. flip)→ What investors consistently underestimate in older Cincinnati housing stock→ Grant's 4-pillar framework for competitive advantage in today's marketWhether you're new to Cincinnati or already investing here, this episode is a masterclass in reading the local market from someone with an unmatched data set.🎙 Guest: Grant Smith, founding partner of Sharper Capital Partners and co-owner of Rowling Homes.Timestamps:🏙 Topics: Hard money lending · Fix and flip · BRRR strategy · Cincinnati neighborhoods · Investor strategy00:00 - Welcome & Grant Smith Introduction02:15 - From Medical Devices to Hard Money Lending04:30 - Rowling Homes: Off-Market Buying & Flipping06:45 - 80+ Active Deals: Sharper Capital's Portfolio Snapshot09:00 - Cincinnati Market Map: Where Deals Are Happening12:30 - BRRR vs. Flip: Which Strategy Works Where16:00 - Spooky Nook Effect on Hamilton Real Estate19:15 - Kennedy Heights: Cincinnati's Hottest Flip Market22:00 - Affordable Housing Under $300K: The Real Opportunity25:30 - 4 Competitive Advantages of Successful Flippers28:00 - Hidden Traps: Septic, Well Water & Local Code31:45 - Old Cincinnati Homes: Underwrite What You Can't See35:00 - Real Deal Horror Stories from the Field39:30 - Cincinnati's Biggest Hidden Gem

Ian Cruz grew up in San Jose, CA, but his Cincinnati story starts at age 13, traveling there for the first time to catch a Bengals game. That connection grew into something bigger: a deep network, real market knowledge, and a growing multifamily portfolio across greater Cincinnati.In this episode, the tables turn as Slocomb interviews co-host Ian Cruz, tracing his full Cincinnati investing journey from a 6-unit in Norwood to co-GP roles on 500+ unit deals to leading his own syndication, and why local knowledge matters more than picking the perfect market.What you will learn:Why Cincinnati beats other Midwest markets for out-of-state investorsThe real math and real mistakes behind small multifamilyArbitrage: Buying properties together and selling them separatelyThe short-term to long-term rental conversion strategyHow to structure GP partnerships using the brain, hammer, hunter, and money frameworkCo-GP on a 500+ unit deal and what working with an institutional operator looks likeCincy Market Update:Cincinnati ranked number one rental market by Rent CafeBlackRock acquires Amazon's 588,000 sq ft same-day facility in Warren County for $61MNew Jersey firm Hillman Partners doubles down on Cincinnati office acquisitionsNew episodes every Monday.

In this episode, the tables turn as Ian Cruz interviews co-host Slocomb Reed, the founder of Three Little Pigs Property Management and a Cincinnati operator with over a decade of boots-on-the-ground experience in the market.Slocomb shares his full Cincinnati origin story, from landing in the city in 2011 after a year in Ecuador, to buying his first house hack in Over-the-Rhine in 2014 for $175,000 right before the neighborhood exploded, to scaling a vertically integrated real estate operation managing hundreds of units across Greater Cincinnati today.The conversation covers what makes Cincinnati uniquely difficult to underwrite from a spreadsheet alone, why the east side and west side divide is more nuanced than most outsiders assume, and the two most common mistakes investors make when entering this market. Slocomb also shares the story of representing BiggerPockets co-host Brandon Turner on a 24-unit acquisition in Cleves, Ohio, taking over distressed management months before close, and what that experience taught him about operational turnarounds.This episode is for anyone who wants to understand how a serious Cincinnati operator thinks about neighborhoods, partnerships, and the gap between what a deal looks like on paper and what it takes to actually execute it.

Cincinnati real estate investing is neighborhood-driven, yet most content about this market treats it as if it's uniform. In this inaugural episode of the Cincy REI Show, hosts Slocomb Reed and Ian Cruz explain why that disconnect inspired a podcast dedicated exclusively to investing in Greater Cincinnati.Slocomb shares his perspective as a long-time Cincinnati operator and investor. Ian brings the lens of an out-of-state investor who has scaled a portfolio locally from the Bay Area. Together, they outline the four core pillars of the show: Cincinnati neighborhood expertise, Cincinnati market knowledge, how real estate strategies actually play out in this city, and real stories from operating here, both the wins and the mistakes.This episode sets expectations for the show's approach: practical, experience-based, and hyper-local. The hosts explain why they won't slow down to teach generic real estate concepts and will instead focus on how those concepts intersect with Cincinnati's unique housing stock, tenant base, and market dynamics.If you invest in Cincinnati, are considering it from out of state, or want a grounded, realistic picture of what it actually takes to operate here, this is your starting point.