This is where you can significantly increase the value of the property by making improvements that attract quality tenants and justify a higher rental price.

and you will have many many applicants assuming the quality of the rental and the rents requested.  

Personally I like the Section 8 program when the property is located in a super poor area with a ton of blight and crime.

An ignorant person lacks knowledge or awareness.

It seems to me that they all whether paid of free, will all have the same exact amount of houses because all the transactions are all public and so they seem to compete with each other based on the quality of the data of the houses, how up to date it is, and the user experience in configuring the how the layout is.

AB 2622 allows unlicensed professionals to handle jobs under $1,000, such as repairing gates, patching drywall, or fixing leaky faucets—saving you money without sacrificing quality.2.

Contractors, unless you have a working relationship with them, normally do not want you bouncing ideas off them.Understand what their hourly rate is, have a discussion with them that you are okay with paying them an hourly rate if they walk the property with you and provide you a scope of work along with an explanation of what you can/can't get away with in regards to improvements.ask them if you go with them, if they can credit you the amount that you paid.Once you develop a working relationship with a few contractors, you can bounce ideas off them and expect quality responses.I do not invest in New York.Best of luck. 

Quote from @Amanda Dobbs: Is there a place to find Private Investors as in one person?

Meaning they went into a standalone bank account (not mixed with your other personal funds). 

9) What happens if they don't show when they are supposed and work quality is poor?