Why Smart Money Is Quietly Moving Into Indianapolis

Happy Friday, 🌱

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first in-person Roots event of the year. It was a huge success. The culture around Roots events is growing fast, and 2026 feels like the year this really starts to scale.

If you weren’t able to attend, here’s what you missed.

We were joined by Rex Fisher, Co-Founder of @properties Indiana and Owner of RCA Homes, who was generous with both his time and insight as we head into a new season of real estate.

My 3 Key Takeaways

IU vs. Purdue in downtown Indy matters
The competition between IU and Purdue to expand their downtown footprints will drive meaningful development near the White River.

Public transit is the next value driver
Land near transit lines is positioned to increase in value as infrastructure, density, and demand follow mobility.

Active investing requires community, a plan, and discipline
Owning a deed is active investing. It is not passive. Truly passive investing looks more like using a traditional IRA to invest in a fund.

If you’d like to learn more about passive investing options, you can book a call with me here.

Being in the room at these events matters. Investing in places you’ve actually walked, to the point of familiarity, is how long-term success happens. Real estate investing is a business. The internet has lowered the barrier to entry, but it has also created a false sense of ease. Succeeding from a distance is hard. If you’re in an unaffordable market and drawn to appreciation, find a local operator you trust and bet on that horse.

We have some great events coming up. Reply to this email if you want an invite.

Later in this email, I’m also sharing an opportunity that I would personally own, either with a partner or as a great pickup for the right investor.

Podcast Highlights

We recently featured two Roots agents on the podcast. These episodes highlight real transformation, not highlight reels. I learned a lot re-listening to both. Hit reply and tell me your takeaways.

Teacher to Agent. Undiscovered Indy. House Hack King.

What happens when a high school teacher takes the leap into real estate in a city that’s quietly exploding?

In this episode, we sit down with Kyle Hoffman, a former teacher turned full-time agent who has become one of Indy’s go-to experts for first-time buyers and house hackers. We unpack why Indianapolis still feels undiscovered, how transferable skills accelerated his growth, and why your first home can be an equity rocket ship if you play it right.

We get real about:

• Making the jump from a W2 to entrepreneurship

• Why house hacking still works in Indy

• Transactional vs transformational relationships

• What it actually takes to build momentum on a team

If you’re living in Indy or thinking about it, feeling stuck in a W2, or curious how real people are building wealth without leaving the Midwest, this one is for you.

Indy Isn’t Small. It’s Connected.

In this episode, we sit down with Ian DeFelice, our first-time homebuyer specialist and one of the most faith-driven, people-first agents on the team.

We talk about why Indianapolis is becoming a must-watch city, including growth, geography, and affordability. The real punchline is this: if you’re trying to build community, grow a business, or stop feeling anonymous in a big city, curiosity is the cheat code.

Inside the episode:

• Why Indy feels like a big city with a small-town heartbeat

• The billboard question Ian would put on 465

• How to build relationships without being salesy

• Why deep one-on-one conversations beat networking noise

• Ian’s exact playbook for renters who want a real plan to buy without pressure

If you’re renting, relocating, or trying to find your people in Indy, this one hits.

DEAL OF THE WEEK: Leland Ave Duplex Package

Investor Deal | Side-By-Side Duplexes

Cash Flow + Light Value Add | Available individually or as a package

Duplex A: 932 / 934 Leland (Stabilized)

• Fully occupied

• Rents: $725 / $640

• Total: $1,365 per month

Duplex B: 926 / 928 Leland (Value Add)

• One unit leased at $725 through 5/31/26

• One unit vacant

• Estimated $7k to $10k to make rent-ready

• Projected rent: $775 to $800 per month

Portfolio Snapshot (Both Properties)

• 4 total units

• 3 currently leased

• Current rent: $2,090 per month

• Stabilized rent: approximately $2,900 per month

Price

• $148,000 per duplex

• Buy one or both

Equity Partner Opportunity
I would pursue these with an equity partner.
Reply if interested and I’ll share proposed terms.