Lol) to support or debunk my thesis, I came away with several neighborhoods in Ohio that will continue to grow for both appreciation and cash flow in the next 5 years.  

THEN, I plan to purchase the second home using a FHA or conventional loan (3%-5% down), for which I will likely pay the monthly cost out-of-pocket, maybe with some rental income support if it is a duplex.My concern is, I do not want to spend my savings or weigh down my debt-to-income ratio so much so that I cannot qualify for and pay the down payment and closing for the lending on the second home.Questions: - With the first home being multi-family, 75% of the rental income (or potential rental income initially) will relatively either maintain or boost my debt-to-income ratio from lenders' perspectives, right? 

My thoughts: if you have a steady job that can support the negative cash flow, and you don't plan on leaving Long Island for at least 5-7 years, I would house hack. 

I really appreciate the support from this platform.

Depending on your down payment (which it seems like you have a good amount of liquid for that) they can nicely cash flow.Ultimately, success in real estate investing comes down to choosing a growing market, investing in a good neighborhood, and building a strong team to support you.

If you see at least a few zoned in the designations you mentioned above, that's potentially a good sign that you can get support from the local Alderman's office, and approval by the ZBA (zoning board of appeals), to rezone.

That said, if you have a very specific issue, please contact support@biggerpockets and perhaps they can assist you.

You have to know the market before you build a plan and I don't think this market supports your intended plan.

Here’s a bit more information about why these could be such powerful tools for you:Financial Support: The average benefit for buyers who qualify for down payment assistance is $17,000.

Some of the best investments can be found in neighborhoods where you may not want to live, but the numbers support it!