I am aware that Central Jersey, my market, has some aids that will allow me to purchase my first home, like HUD covering 15k of closing costs, but who can know more about these things?

In New Jersey (north), there is not enough inventory.

Calling New Jersey/Multi-Family Investors! 

Plus, being on layoff status gives me a lot of free time and is Just another reason to never put all my eggs in the job basket again.Here's the deal, pals: whether you're in the land of Jersey, the big apple New York, Pennsylvania, or Maryland, I'm your go-to guy!

I am aware that Central Jersey, my market, has some aids that will allow me to purchase my first home, like HUD covering 15k of closing costs, but who can know more about these things?

I would say however, you might want to get some insurance if you do get going on this...Good luck, and take care.Maybe because I'm from Jersey, too, that I whole-heartily agree with you.

any tools that jersey locals use for our market or have helped you close on deals or watch market news, etc?

@Steve T.As a native of New Jersey currently residing in Georgia, I highly recommend considering Georgia.

What i found is that if your from North Jersey, you want to you an Attorney and if your from South Jersey you want to you a title company.

Intel is a great example, who is building the largest chip manufacturing plant in the US right here, and it will be a $20 billion dollar investment that brings a few new thousand jobs.https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/21/intel-ohio-building-computer-chip-factories-licking-county-jersey-township/9173472002/ Another example of economic growth is the upcoming Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Inpatient Hospital which is a 1.9million square foot hospital that will bring over 800 new beds and a thousand new jobs. https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/new-osu-hospital-expected-to-transform-health-careHere are a few more recent investments https://www.10tv.com/article/money/business/hydrogen-power-company-hyperion-bringing-700-jobs-to-columbus/530-25907aab-5517-4661-a9f3-d2ed2d5be6b0 https://news.wosu.org/news/2022-02-08/rumpke-to-build-50-million-recycling-facility-in-columbus Check out The Complete Guide to the Columbus, Ohio Real Estate Market which goes through the Columbus, Ohio market in depth and will give you a better scope of where the highest levels of growth are taking place and where to look to invest.