I have had a long term interest in purchasing an investment property and I'm looking to be smarter about this.

Focus on absentee owners and start with the ones who live the farthest away and only own one property in the area since they have the least use for the property.You can also drive for dollars, looking for anomalies of disrepair and then look them up in the tax records and use a site like Spokeo to do cheap skip tracing.

Is the process the same as buying property in Canada?

The replacement property must be similar in that it is another rental property. 

Return the property ID3.

Or local to the property?

If your interest payment is $8,125Your stocks have to make a dividiend of about $11,000 of which you would prolly pay 15% to 25% in federal / state taxes / NIIT.Assuming you will make a 10%-11% return is not guaranteed.You will also feel good about having a paid off property(relief).Furthermore, your credit score may go up with a paid off property.Best of luck!

Investment Info:

Small multi-family (2-4 units) buy & hold investment in Bronx.

Purchase price: $640,000

Cash invested: $220,000

Purchase price $640,000
Got it at this price because there is a no...

Any good area so you recommend for buying a rental property ? 

I ask to take a walk through and document the current condition as my agreement states they can not damage the property during this process. and of course don't give them anything until you have walked through verified they are out and have voluntarily handed over keys.