Then NYC came up with an anti airbnb task force and then started implementing fines. 

I know a lot of folks on BP don't like his anti-debt stance, but I think most everyone agrees on his foundational principles of budgeting, saving, getting out of consumer debt, and having emergency funds set aside before you start getting into investing.Let's hear about what your current non-real estate situation looks like before we start diving into beach front STR plans.

.* City Council is considering foolish anti-short-term-rental legislation that would be a major blow to the city's tourism-dependent economy (yeah I'm biased as an owner of an STR management company)All that being said, I still think Cleveland is a fantastic place for real estate investment.

Many of these economies are not well diversified (very commodity dependent), a new leader can emerge and go pro or anti business causing challenges to foreign ownership, etc.  

@Dave Jimenez  your wasting your time .... your getting the cart way before the horse.If you have no funds yourself.. you need to find a money partner.. that's all you should be doing now.. selling yourself and the concept of buy low sell high.. what other skills might you have.. you need to really understand construction. and in Hawaii remodel cost are WAY more than other areas of the country.. so you need to get that handled.with the online bidding companies. you need to usually post some fee to bid. usually a few grand.. and you need a REAL POF ( proof of funds) .. and then all the other things you state@Sabrina Taylor  Sabrina want to be careful recommending sub too on homes that are in foreclosure.. while this may be a strategy in your state. on the west coast we have anti equity stripping laws and laws on who can even represent or talk to a homeowner in foreclosure.. so this being a national site.. want to keep that in mind..

California is getting awfully expensive and the laws seem to be becoming pretty anti-landlord at the moment...If I gave you any advice, it would be to not let your enthusiasm drop and keep moving in the direction of taking action. 

Not to take anything away from you, but you know the prices of real estate (especially in NY), so I know it may not seem like much, but I think you've overcome the most difficult obstacle and that is going from 0-1.The way I see NY is that it does not meet any basic requirements for investing: it has low cap rates, high taxes, stagnant or decreasing population, anti-landlord laws/sentiment, rules & regulations etc, etc.

We sprayed the anti-mold thing to the ceiling. 

Don’t like to kill things, vegan/animal rights community, green or environmentally friendly community, natural/organic/anti pesticide community, or simply because it’s a better home building design.

Other issues arise there such a holding times with certain types of financing as title has changed hands(FHA Anti-flip rule comes to mind).