Not sure where you are, but might be worth the drive.

As far as I know, your assumptions about the tax implications are correct for non residents, it was one of the main factors that stopped the idea of investing in Spain for me.

If scaling quickly is your goal, DSCR loans are a great tool for the refi portion since there’s no 12 month seasoning requirement like conventional loans, and DTI isn’t a factor. 

Offer to help with lead generation, driving for dollars, cold calling, or even administrative tasks.

South End is great for appreciation-driven investors who want to be close to the action.NoDa (North Davidson): The artsy vibe and walkability have made NoDa a magnet for young professionals, driving appreciation in this district.Kannapolis: Known for ongoing revitalization projects, Kannapolis is positioned for appreciation.

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

See, when building a portfolio, appreciation is key, and the #1 factor that will dictate things.

Buyers don’t care if you shelled out more on the rehab, if you’re priced too high, you’ll end up sitting on the market way longer than you want, driving up holding costs.Lastly if your buying on market, REO or Corporate sellers are dominating and not as willing to negotiate as owners would.

Let's of NYC investors look at other cities in NY, Rochester, Buffalo, etc... they can drive to them to see them, and they know the state well enough to feel comfortable.Most of the rust belt cities in NY offer cash flow as well. 

@Eli Fazzo, Almost every location is going to have some surprises that you just have to factor in when looking at investing in real estate.