So, you may not have have the ability to increase rents because Section 8 limits how much you can charge, which may not keep up with inflation.Not everyone has Section 8 issues as my clients had, but you will more likely to have more problems than with non-Section 8 tenants.Multi-Family vs.

Given your residency limits, the high prices in NYC and surrounding areas are a challenge, but there are still options in neighborhoods further out within your allowed range, like parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

These expenses can create a paper loss, which may offset other passive income or carry forward to future years.If you qualify for Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) or actively manage a Short-Term Rental (STR), the losses can be applied against your active W-2 or business income, reducing your overall tax liability.

Im more a hands on learning definitely and as far as living in a unit i couldn't yet because its out of the kids school district  plus the limited space. but thats the goal, to buy a small air or inn to manage and run for work while still renting in our district and then looking to buy since we're renters again!

In case you have not noticed, our national debt is already out of control, and there're legal limits on additional borrowing.The government has a third option: print more money.

Small entrepreneurs should not diversify their limited resource if they want to grow.  

If the net cashflow is negative, it's treated like a debt/liability for DTI.

Low prices enable more people to buy, limiting demand for rental properties so rents decline (in inflation-adjusted dollars).Population Growth: In areas with growing populations, demand outpaces supply, driving up property prices.

It would be a big red flag to me if they are doing a lot of volume in this market. https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/10145/83067-limited-partner-s-guide-to-investing-in-the-right-deal

There are some places that you pay dues every month or every year, so sometimes you're buying a liability.