My strategy is to find a good agent, analyze the off market deals presented to me on either SF or MF within my budget, account for some repairs so I don't want to buy turnkey but also don't want to BRRRR from out of state (at least not yet), and rent to section 8. 

Be careful, as I just wrote, they changed and a homeowner can no longer get their own permit for a property that they don't presently live in.

Presently living in NYC -- looking to purchase my first RE property in Fairfield county, CT in 2025.

Depending on what you are getting into, it could be fantastic, or a maintenance headache if the reason it's off market is because it has some deferred maintenance.

How do you build trust and present your deals to make them more appealing?

It defers taxes and lets you get into a more stable property.

The 1031 can defer capital gains taxes, but it’s crucial to identify a like-kind property and complete the exchange within the IRS timelines.

Currently don’t have the funds nor setup/space to do a house hack but good to keep in mind for the future if the opportunity presents itself! 

As Rick mentioned, which is not what any OOS investor ever wants to hear, but being present is probably going to be helpful at some point in this process.

For the ground floor (non-permitted) we need to do some bathroom improvements which are not presently to code.