Is this you?
You've saved $30K–$100K and want to put it to work — but you're not sure how to start with real estate.
You've been watching YouTube videos and reading forums for months, but haven't pulled the trigger on a property.
You have a full-time career and want rental income — not a second job managing a property.
Meet Elijah
An experienced real estate investor who helps others buy their first rental property.
Elijah built his own rental portfolio from scratch and now guides others through the same process. He doesn't replace your realtor or your property manager — he works alongside them, filling the gap between deciding to invest and confidently managing your first property. The goal isn’t just your first deal — it’s making you a successful landlord for life.
Part of that process includes determining whether a property is better suited for long-term tenants or short-term rentals like Airbnb — and checking HOA restrictions before you buy to make sure your rental strategy is actually allowed.
Based in New York City, working remotely with clients nationwide. As an independent advisor, he has no commission incentives and no vendor kickbacks. When your property does well, so does he — his income is tied directly to your results.
The Process
Four phases. One person. Start to finish.
Pre-Search
Figure out what you can afford, which markets make sense, and what kind of property to target — before you spend a dollar.
Deal Analysis
Elijah runs the numbers — projected rent, returns, repair costs, and red flags. Your realtor finds listings; Elijah tells you which ones are worth it.
Transaction
Your realtor handles offers, negotiations, and closing. Elijah stays on call for inspection questions, deal structure, and strategy.
Elijah + your realtor work together so you get the best of both.Activation
Once you close, Elijah coordinates furnishing, listing, tenant sourcing, lease writing, and lining up reliable local contractors.
Pricing
Four ways to work with Elijah.
Start Here
The Blueprint
$199
60-minute consultation + written plan
- Honest "ready or not yet" assessment
- Which markets fit your budget
- 2–3 market recommendations with reasoning
- Written action plan (PDF)
One-Time
The Assessment
$499
3 properties analyzed, go/no-go
- Full financial analysis on up to 3 properties
- Projected rent, cash flow, and returns
- Repair cost estimates & red flags
- Long-term vs. Airbnb suitability
- HOA review (for condos)
- Clear go or no-go on each property
Full Service — 12 Months
The Build
$4,999 + 10% Y1
Full service, then you take the reins
- Everything in Blueprint + Assessment
- Detailed market report with real data
- Realtor introduction + on-call through closing
- Full activation: furnishing, listing, lease, contractors
- Tenant sourcing & screening
- Contractor vetting & quote reviews
- 12 months of post-tenant support
- After Year 1, you keep 100% of rent
Full Service — 24 Months
The Build+
$5,999 + 10% Y1 + 5% Y2
Same setup + Elijah stays for 2 full years
- Everything in The Build
- Quarterly rent reviews & adjustments
- Lease renewal support
- 24 months of post-tenant support
- After Year 2, you keep 100% of rent
Compare
How Elijah fits in
| Elijah | YouTube | AI | Realtor | Property Manager | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaches concepts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Analyzes your deal | ✓ | — | ~ | ~ | — |
| No commissions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| Knows local market | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Finds a tenant | ✓ | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Furnishing & setup | ✓ | — | — | — | ~ |
| With you start to finish | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
Your realtor handles the transaction. A property manager handles the long haul. Elijah handles the strategy and setup in between — then makes sure you can manage it yourself.
Market Spotlight
Markets Elijah is tracking — from starter to premium.
Memphis, TN
StarterWhy Memphis? One of the most affordable metro markets in the country with strong rental yields. Over half of Memphis residents are renters, and the price-to-rent ratio is among the most favorable for buy-and-hold investors. Low barrier to entry, deep tenant pool.
Best suited for long-term rentals. Memphis's strength is consistent monthly cash flow at a low entry price, not nightly vacation rates.
Purchase
Rent
Mortgage (20% down on $150K)
Elijah's take
Memphis is for investors who want the lowest barrier to entry and the strongest cash-flow ratio. 3-bedrooms tend to be the sweet spot here — higher rent, longer tenant stays. The key is buying in the right neighborhoods.
Cleveland, OH
Mid-RangeWhy Cleveland? Affordable metro market with rental yields that outpace most coastal cities — some reports cite gross yields around 9.8%. Revitalization in key neighborhoods is driving demand, and the price-to-rent ratio remains strong for buy-and-hold investors.
Best suited for long-term rentals. Cleveland's strength is consistent monthly cash flow at a low entry price and one of the highest rent-to-price ratios in the country.
Purchase
Rent
Mortgage (20% down on $140K)
Elijah's take
Cleveland is where most first-time investors can realistically start. Entry costs are low, rental yields are among the highest in the country, and the tenant pool is steady. 2-bedrooms can be the sweet spot here — lower buy-in with a strong rent-to-price ratio.
Arlington, VA
PremiumWhy Arlington? Strong rental demand driven by proximity to D.C., government employers, and Amazon's HQ2. 58% of Arlington households are renters, and 76% of renters hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Competitive to enter, but the rental income is strong and the tenant pool is one of the most reliable in the country.
Suited for both long-term and short-term rentals. Long-term demand is anchored by government and tech workers. Furnished short-term rentals near Pentagon City, Rosslyn, or Crystal City can command premium rates from business travelers.
Purchase
Rent
Mortgage (20% down on $475K, 2BR)
Elijah's take
Arlington rewards investors who do the math. 2-bedroom condos can be the sweet spot — lower buy-in than a 3BR with a more favorable rent-to-price ratio. The tenant pool is high-income and long-tenure, which means less turnover and less wear.
Updated May 2026. Data from Redfin, Zillow, RentCafe, Zumper. Mortgage: 6.5%, 30yr fixed, includes tax + insurance. These are starting points, not guarantees. Don't see your target area? Ask Elijah — he tracks dozens of markets nationwide.
FAQ
Common questions.
Tenants break leases. Furnaces break in February. Every Build engagement includes a plan for the downside, not just the upside. When something goes wrong, you're texting Elijah — not Googling at midnight.
A great realtor is essential — Elijah doesn't replace one, he works alongside them. Your realtor handles the transaction: finding listings, writing offers, negotiating, and closing. Elijah handles the investment strategy side: determining which markets make sense for your budget, analyzing whether a specific property will actually cash-flow, and setting everything up after closing so you're collecting rent as fast as possible. Most realtors are experts at buying and selling homes. Elijah is focused specifically on making sure your rental performs as an investment.
A property manager handles the day-to-day once your rental is running. Elijah handles everything that comes before: picking the market, analyzing deals, coordinating setup, finding tenants, and making sure you're not overpaying for repairs. Once it's running, he connects you with a trusted PM and steps back.
He has an HVAC and appliance background and has been through rental setup many times. He keeps trusted contractors in each market and reviews every quote before you sign. First-time investors overpay because they don't have a baseline. Elijah is that baseline.
Yes. Part of the deal analysis includes determining whether a property is better suited for long-term tenants or short-term rentals like Airbnb. Elijah checks HOA restrictions, local regulations, and market demand for both strategies before you buy — so you don't find out after closing that your plan isn't allowed.
After you close, Elijah handles listing your property, setting the right rent price, screening applicants, and writing the lease. He knows what makes a listing stand out and what to look for in an application.
That's the right instinct — and it's exactly why this service exists. Elijah's process is designed to protect you from the most common first-timer mistakes: overpaying, underestimating repairs, choosing the wrong market, or landing a bad tenant. Every deal goes through a full financial analysis before you make an offer. And if the numbers don't work, Elijah will tell you to walk.
The setup is identical — same market research, deal analysis, activation, and tenant sourcing. The difference is how long Elijah stays after your tenant moves in. The Build includes 12 months of support. The Build+ extends that to 24 months with quarterly rent reviews and lease renewal support.
Then he saved you from a bad investment — and you still have your money. Blueprint clients get a written action plan either way. If the answer is "not yet," Elijah tells you exactly what needs to change before you're ready.
Get Started
Your first rental property is closer than you think.
Tell him where you're at and what you're looking for. He'll take it from there.
or email directly: elijah.barforchion@gmail.com
For Realtors
Work with investor-clients? Elijah handles the investment strategy and post-close setup so you can close more deals.