Digital Nomad buying a owner occupied multifam in the Bronx

[Swaraj Raichowdhuri]

Hi BP family,

I am a 34 year old IT consultant. I've been a nomad most of my adult life and I still am. In the US, I've lived in Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, LA, Little Rock, Omaha, Portland, Minneapolis...etc etc...usually six months at a time.

Every couple of years, I take long breaks to backpack around the world (six months to a year)

A few years ago, I set my goals toward a location independent four hour work week life, by setting up a IT consulting business. It is still work in progress.

Now, I want to buy my first home in the US, a owner occupied multifamily in the Bronx.

But why the Bronx ??

1) Because I love the Bronx. I love the diversity, and I love that it is a bit rough around the edges. 

2) Because I love New York city as a whole. Bronx is only 30 minutes to times square by express train and pretty much the only place I can afford to buy a multifamily.

Immediate goals

To live rent free, and may be make some money after mortgage/tax/maintenance, through a combination of rentals and short term rentals like AirBnb. So that I am not entirely dependent on my 9-5 IT work for a livelihood, and I have more leeway to take a break and concentrate on growing the IT business.

Challenges

 I have been consistently making six figures and I have very high savings and zero debts.  BUT . in 2016, I traveled most of the year , and made only $55K. How do I convince the lenders to look at my entire income history and ignore the irregular patterns for the long travel breaks?

Steps taken so far

I have registered for NACA. (www.naca.com ) I have my first meeting on the 29th of December.

Real estate experience so far

 In 2013, I bought my parents an apartment for $40K. They use it part time and there is no rental income. I bought it all cash and the price has since appreciated to $61K . It can be liquidated  if I have to. ***In India, where the apartment is located, rental income is negligible ($200 is what I can get a month ), but property values rise way faster than USA. 

Savings for down payment 

About $50k invested as fixed deposit in India and about $20k cash here in USA.

So, this is the brief history of me in the real estate world. I will post my specific questions in the specific forums.

Thanks!