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Sue McCormick is 5 years right into a plan she lengthy postponed whereas elevating two children as a single mother. “We’re engaged on our twentieth challenge as we converse,” she mentioned. “We’ll end our twentieth challenge in a few weeks, after which we’ve got two extra within the pipeline.”
The Dayton native invests the place she grew up for affordability, and since rebuilding previous blocks brings her a lot pleasure.
How She Received Began, and Why Dayton
McCormick had all the time wished to take a position, however waited till life allowed it. Podcasts have been the on-ramp that constructed confidence and a roadmap. She focused Dayton as soon as she realized that properties in her hometown have been extra reasonably priced. The group mission issues, too: She loves going into these communities and rehabbing properties to boost these areas.
Technique and a Dwell Instance
McCormick’s technique is straightforward: repair and promote.
“Our funding technique proper now remains to be rehabbing properties to promote,” she mentioned. “We get properties primarily from auctions, websites like yours [Auction.com] particularly.”
Eight of the 20 properties McCormick has bought within the final 5 years have been via Public sale.com, the latest one in June 2025. She targets about six to eight weeks for a rehab.
A present challenge was bought at a tax public sale for $80,000, with about $70,000 into rehab to this point. She plans to listing it for about $269,000.
Why Auctions Beat the MLS (for Her)
McCormick mentioned she sees higher pricing at public sale than on the MLS, and she or he’s upfront in regards to the trade-off: Inside circumstances are sometimes unknown.
“I’m not essentially afraid of going right into a home that I haven’t seen footage of,” she mentioned. That threat tolerance is offset by potential reductions.
Managing From 500 Miles Away
Ohio’s on-line foreclosures auctions make a long-distance technique workable. As a long-distance investor, McCormick can get within the recreation with out having to bodily fly to Ohio for each public sale. She has even bid on her mobile phone whereas touring or on trip.
Division of labor helps. She primarily sources the offers whereas her daughter goes to Dayton to verify on the progress, with FaceTime check-ins with the contractor in between.
The Contractor Who Stayed—and Stayed
McCormick’s Dayton community spans pals who deal with small errands to a contractor who turned household. Early on, a subcontractor lingered after hours whereas she toured a stranger via a home, staying primarily to make sure she was secure.
“From that second on, I had a reference to this contractor,” she mentioned. “He has been with us for 5 years.” And the lesson caught together with her: “Contractors could make or break you… So having a contractor that I can belief is a serious win.”
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Due Diligence, Prices, and Early Classes
McCormick urges newcomers to review the method, observe in individual, and construct a conservative finances.
Analysis is crucial, she mentioned, whereas additionally working comps, making an attempt to see inside if the property is vacant, and speaking to neighbors as high issues to realize. When estimating prices on public sale buys, she plans for worst-case situations, equivalent to new plumbing, updating {the electrical} system, and changing the roof.
One warning McCormick identified was that underestimating can actually kill a deal. Her first public sale win had undiscovered kitchen-fire injury. They didn’t make some huge cash, but it surely delivered the boldness to maintain going.
Title vigilance is one other takeaway. After experiencing deed fraud on a property, she now recommends enrolling in a county alert that flags deed modifications.
Neighborhood Ripple Results
Rehabs have turned out to be a motivator for neighbors, not only a steadiness sheet win. “The neighbors are affected. They really feel higher,” McCormick mentioned.
As tasks progress, she’s watched extra owners come exterior to work on their very own locations, and even ask her crew for assist.
“A rehab challenge can’t solely improve the group, however inspire the group in some methods,” McCormick added.
Recommendation to Begin At present
Schooling first. McCormick suggests listening to podcasts and studying books. She additionally mentioned that she discovered Public sale.com via the BiggerPockets podcast, and at one time was listening to 2 to 3 BiggerPockets episodes a day.
If auctions are your path, she additionally mentioned to attend some, even when you must do it for a yr earlier than you’re snug. Then construct your native community the best way she did—by displaying up at auctions, {hardware} shops, and on-line group teams—so that you’re not alone when points come up.
McCormick’s story matches a busy investor’s actuality: Decide a market you perceive, purchase with a margin of security, and depend on individuals you belief.
