Keep this in mind- I call it the 3 block rule.

I'm sure you have met plenty of people successful in all markets though Jay is undoubtedly informed when he says current conditions aren't ideal, the guy has been around the block.

I know a house a few blocks over sold yesterday for $150,000, not remodeled.

I was planning to charge them via Stripe, but the charges were blocked by the bank.

In any case, when I searched for the owner’s name, I came up with the 2 mortgages but nothing else.Also, I saw that the same property was put up for auction last year and then removed – is it likely that the owner paid off what was owed then and fell behind again or do banks just arbitrarily pull properties off the auction block?

This way, when you are looking at a deal, you know exactly what it feels like on that block, and you can move very quickly with your offer.Get your funds ready.

Both properties were on the same block and being sold by the same wholesaler.

The few deals I walked away from were based on the location (even though a BRRR would've worked) and the condition of surrounding homes in the nearest block.

Search all the 2-1 & 3-1 rentals within a 10 block radius and see how everything’s priced at the low, and newly refurbished end. 

Investing in northern NJ is, in my opinion, great, but definitely requires city-by-city and, frequently, block-by-block knowledge of these areas to fully understand the area.Best of luck!