NYC newbie seeking wisdom

[Brendan Edwards]

Hey guys, I'm new to BP (I absolutely love it) and I'm brand new to real estate. I am currently saving for a down payment. I was hoping to get some guidance here: My goal is to buy a multi family home in an outer borough (probably Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn possibly New Jersey and become an occupying owner. Excluding taxes and repairs, I should be able to live rent free with that plan (I just have to find a deal in which the numbers add up). I live in Cambria Heights, Queens—. I was hoping to find a duplex or triplex $400,000-500,000 range Does anyone have any advice for neighborhoods to look into? I'm planning on getting a FHA loan, by the way. Is there anyone out there who has been in the same boat and has some wisdom to spare? Also, does anyone know of some NYC BiggerPockets meetups?