Finding a Market when living in NYC

[AMY NEWTON]

Hello all,

I am new to the real estate investing world and am in the process of educating myself on how to invest in rental income properties that I can hold for the long term.

My biggest concern is finding a market to research for the first purchase. I live in Brooklyn. I do not plan to stay here more than 3 years and have some contacts in NW Florida as well as upstate NY that could potentially help with management.

Most of the info I come across recommends purchasing the first home in your own neighborhood. I cannot do that here in NYC.

What would you recommend a newbie like me to do in seeking out a market for investment purposes?