On the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments hosted by Kent Fai He, we sit down with Kansas City contractor and investor Tyler Aikin to map out how affordable rentals actually get renovated, permitted, and leased. Tyler gives you on-the-ground costs, a step-by-step renovation process, real Section 8 timelines, and the exact KC submarkets he’s watching.
What you’ll learn:
How to budget real rehab line items
How to choose between KC, KS and KC, MO for inspections
How to present a credible scope to your contractor.
Why certain KC suburbs pull stronger rents and lower headaches for voucher households
Standout insights and direct quotes from Tyler:
• Leavenworth’s rent strength: “The rent rates there are actually higher than they are in Kansas City proper.”
• What unit type moves: “Almost always you’re going to be looking at families. You’re going to be looking for the 3-2 model.”
• Inspection reality check: “The Kansas City, Missouri side is wildly unorganized… months at a time without any movement. The Kansas side is definitely more organized and consistent.”
• What does it cost to renovate a property... with real life numbers from a veteran contractor:
- Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring install: “About $4.55 per square foot.”
- Adding a bathroom: “Typically about $8,000.”
- Basic kitchen rebuild: “Plan $9,000–$12,000.”
- HVAC system swap: “$6,500–$8,000 for the system.”
- Foundation piers: “About $1,500 per pier… bigger issues can hit $12k–$16k.”
- Windows: “About $585 per window.”
- Whole-house electrical upgrade: “$6,000–$8,000 to bring the house to modern standards.”
Why this matters for affordable housing investors and developers:
Margins are tight. Time kills deals.
Tyler shows you how to scope jobs that finish on time, pass inspections, and house families who need them. He also points to KC micro-markets with stronger rent support and better inspection performance, so you underwrite with realistic assumptions instead of wishful thinking.
Common questions this episode answers:
What are realistic rehab costs for floors, baths, kitchens, HVAC, windows, foundations, and electrical?
Where in the KC metro do voucher families most often seek 3-bed homes for rentals?
How different are inspection timelines and caseworker processes in KC, MO vs the Kansas side?
Which nearby markets offer stronger rent potential than KC proper?
Watch until the end if you want Tyler's phone number!
Please DM any questions or content suggestions to Kent Fai He, affordable housing developer, educator, and host of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments in the United States.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
#RealEstate #AffordableHousing #RealEstateInvesting #Section8 #KansasCity #Leavenworth #OverlandPark #RenovationCosts #LIHTC #VoucherHousing #PropertyManagement #TylerAikin #kentfaihe
00:00 Podcast Trailer
03:46 Intro (Getting to Know Tyler: His Background and Story)
06:15 Where Are the Best Places to Invest in Kansas City Real Estate?
29:57 How Much Does It Cost to Repaint & Replace Flooring in a Home
30:57 How Much Does It Cost to Rehab and Add a Bathroom?
30:35 How Much Does It Really Cost to Replace Flooring?
33:41 How Much Does It Cost to Renovate a Kitchen?
37:10 How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Roof?
38:25 How Much Does It Cost to Replace an HVAC System and Ductwork?
42:43 How to Spot Serious Foundation Problems (and What It Costs to Fix Them)
48:07 How Much Does It Cost to Replace Windows?
51:19 How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade an Electrical Panel?
58:13 How Much Does It Cost to Replumb a House and Replace Sewer Lines?
59:53 Why is affordable housing (lack of supply) hard to solve?
01:02:00 Where/How to contact Tyler?