Why Buying Apartment Buildings in Ohio Still Makes Sense (If You Know Where to Look)
Let’s start with something obvious: not every apartment deal in Ohio is worth your time. In fact, most are not worth your time. But some are absolute gold—if you know what to look for.
We’ve been operating in this market long enough to see the shifts, when things heat up, when they cool down, and when they just flat line. Right now, we’re in a spot where motivated sellers, rising operating costs, and cautious capital are creating pockets of opportunity. Not everywhere, but definitely in the right corners of Columbus and Central Ohio.
The Inventory is There, But It’s Tricky
We’re seeing more Class B and C properties hit the market, especially from fatigued owners who rode the wave of low interest rates and now want out. Many of these assets haven’t had the attention they need with accumulated deferred maintenance, outdated interiors, bloated expenses, and exhausted Cap-Ex budgets.
We can deal with the ugly on the outside because we know what we can do with it. But we underwrite realistically and push where we can. If the numbers don’t work as-is with realistic rent bumps and a clear CapEx plan, we walk.
Financing’s Tight, But Not Broken
Interest rates are still hovering higher than we’d like. That’s not news. What matters is structuring deals that still pencil and leave room for upside. If you zoom out a bit more than the past decade, you also notice that rates are not that high in comparison, so waiting for rates to drop is nonsense.
We’re seeing more seller financing options on the table, along with assumable agency debt that was locked in pre-rate-hike. Both are worth exploring. But you need the team, experience, and relationships to actually move on them.
Where We’re Looking
For us, it’s Columbus and its surrounding submarkets. These are areas where job growth and population trends are still pointed up, even if rent growth is more moderate than 18 months ago. We expect healthier rent growth in the upcoming years 2026 and 2027 as new supply has finally started to dry up.
We’re not chasing volume. We’re chasing quality. And in this part of the cycle, that means turning over a lot of rocks and having the patience to wait for the right one.
There’s still money to be made in the Ohio multifamily market. But the days of passive wins are behind us. This is a long game based on fundamentals and hard work.
Want to explore investment opportunities in Columbus? Let’s talk! We have passive, active, 1031, value-add, multifamily, office, and ground-up development opportunities available.
