Conceptually think of house hacking in the NYC metro as a reduction in rent.It all boils down to the numbers, but if the direct property costs (mortgage + insurance + tax + capex/repairs + vacancy) - the income (rental income) is less than your rent, you are effectively saving yourself money, aka "rent saving"I did this in 2014 in Westchester county (different location, different time, different market), but effectively cut my rent in half.Regarding Basit's suggestion, I would follow this ONLY if your cashflow from the other market is greater than the "rent saving" in NYC on a per dollar invested basis.Joe

As a Spark investor, you are effectively paying double fees (Rise48's and Spark's) and then the cash flow coming from Rise48 is stripping 30% off for their carry, and of the remaining, Spark is stripping another 20% for their carry.  

It is also a rather large county that could take some time to get across so the location you want to target could effect what type of property manager you will want. 

Looking for effective operator due diligence / risk mitigation methods

Finding new tenants during the colder months can be challenging, and we aim to avoid any prolonged vacancy periods.Enhanced Flexibility for Tenant Management: Another factor influencing our decision is the greater flexibility it offers our property manager, ****, to effectively manage and find tenants during the summer months.

Has anyone found a more cost-effective alternative that can match CoStar?

@Nick RichardsI agree with most of what you had to said and gas prices will effect my budget.

How does spending $$ on coaching effect your ability to make a down payment?

Additionally, there are often fees associated with belonging to an HOA, which can be an added financial burden.Ultimately, it comes down to your goals and deciding which choice will most effectively support them.

Building the right team of strategic partners is key to effectively completing development/new construction projects.