Newark is hands down one of the worst cities in America to invest in. 

Ultimately, leading to issues down the road (eviction/habitual late payments)

It snapped off vertically down the middle when he went to the kitchen in the dark in the middle of the night and when he turned to walk back, he walked into a little cupboard door which pushed it back against an edge of the wall, which caused the wood to snap.

Is it foolish to consider using the HELOC for the down payment?

I just don't see it going down significantly more than the current state... but again who knows.. it's Dubai like you said

Also, how'd you narrow down your search to these two markets? 

It was 20% down 

Any MF of the quality and size (50 up) I would have been interested in would have been cash flow negative for the next 5 years or so, even with 30% down.

By focusing on effective time management, clear communication, building your network, and implementing a solid marketing strategy, you’ll be better prepared to navigate the ups and downs of the real estate industry.

My wife will also travel down alone to spend a week at a time with our daughter and grandson.