Affordable Invest-able neighborhoods outside of NYC

[Yossi F.]

All,

I have been heavily researching and performing due diligence to invest in local real estate. I have partnered to provide hard money loans (one completed successfully so far), gone to auctions, spoke to home owners by knocking on some potential investment properties (I have some bites). The barrier is high to invest in NYC and surrounding areas. I have 150k to invest which will get me at most one or barely two properties. I was wondering what the closest neighborhoods outside of NYC (but close enough to drive, within 2+ hours) that are more affordable/invest-able i.e. something to buy for 50k, fix up and flip or rent. Any insight is great.

Thank you,

Yossi