In the area the big apartment building provide only shared laundry and all the 2 and 3 family do not provide any laundry convenience.I think by providing in the building laundry conveniences would help give an edge to better tenants vs the other buildings that don't have.QuestionsWhat are your experiences?

GESA also does a lot of residential lending in the area, and both credit unions have a Home Loan Center in the area, which you should find convenient.

@Troy S.I would say it depends on your level of connections to businesses and expertise in dealing with different businesses (e.g. logistical/legal/practical issues leasing the space to a restaurant versus convenience store).

If you and your partner are planning to self-manage and keep your full time jobs (for now), I'd stress the importance of proximity and convenience to your investment property. 

You buy turnkey for convenience, not built in equity.

@Nick JonesYou are not land locked to NYC prices, there is no rule you need to invest in your backyard.Don’t get me wrong it’s convenient to be able to drive to your property but not a most.

It's right off the 155 & Gallatin Pike, super convenient location!

They are also a convenient way to prove I am intelligent enough to learn new things like medical device regulations or commercial real estate sales practices. 

Most of them - especially the small mom and pop operates - tend to overstate income (If you raise rents you'll make this" and understate expenses by conveniently forgetting to include some of them. 

There are two other convenient options cozy.co and mysmartmove.com (Transunion owned web site).