So think about what's comfortable for you.

Jersey City is hot right now but like I tell my clients the majority of the time I can find them deals that make more sense in Essex County but that depends on the client and what their needs are along with their comfort level. 

Find out what works for you and your team on smaller deals then scale up once you start to get comfortable with multifamily. 

Make sure to keep tenants comfortable during the process, and leverage property management companies with investor connections for potential buyers.Good luck!

It is in a northern MI Downtown area (opp zone) in a county seat with 2 hospitals, had it re-zoned to mixed use, and is considered blighted which makes it eligible for MEDC funding of up to 50% of project cost.It is 8k sqft (4,000 each level) with the lower level being a walkout (top level is street level with sloped drive down to the rear of the building).

Lot's of lenders will want local (boots on the ground) to feel comfortable doing a loan.  

Long story short if you are committed to house hacking the sky is the limits and there is endless possibility, it really comes down to your comfort level and where exactly you need to be in New Jersey.

Or they need to move to a cheaper city / state where they comfortably afford.

The outcome was great.. they secured a mid-century home with a rental unit that offered both a comfortable living space and a reliable income stream.On a personal note, a friend of mine made a bold move and purchased in a slightly less popular area.

Is it segregated (only my funds in the account)- do you have an attorney on staff that reviews exchange docs and keeps them current - what is the typical time for your staff to complete an exchange ( you want to get a feel for if they are understaffed and can they get the work done on your time frame)- how many exchanges do you do a month- what is your errors and omissions insurance through, can I get a copy- what is the amount of your fidelity bond - for each occurrence- what protections are in place to prevent wire fraud- will my funds be used by the company for outside investments (goes back to the type of account funds are held in)- who will be my contact during the exchange (goes to customer service, you want one contact who you can reach by telephone)Investors should keep in mind that it is their money they are placing with a QI to hold for a short period of time and be sure they feel comfortable with the company they choose to perform this role.