Being a NYC resident (originally from Long Island), the price of entry in the area is on the higher end, so I've been considering some options in the NY Capitol region, as well as NJ and CT. 

do you add bathrooms and convert the garage to rooms as well?

Have a steady 9-5 job but looking to branch into real estate investing as well. 

That was my impression as well. 

Even if you only averaged 2.8% appreciation annually, which if you've had it 20 years I have no clue how that's true given prices have well more than doubled in that time, youre skipping over the fact that you have been benefiting from that appreciation on the ENTIRE house, not just the % you paid for.  

I have a call out to my accountant as well. :)

I've attached the median list price for Detroit here as well to compare to something like Cincinnati. 

First time investor, hoping to obtain my first duplex soon, and this family land purchase is on the horizon as well.

Hi: Jamie, hope you're doing well.

Of these professional wholesalers, nearly all of them will be well capitalized professional real estate investors or large businesses doing hundreds of deals annually with many years in and around every part of the real estate investment journey.