Make your money in the city but invest it in much more economical areas. 

@Chase Loeb, compared to New York, I think you'll be pleased with the prices that you find on investment property in Richmond. 

So I have been starting to expand my speed of investing in the upstate New York area and have found that I can severely lowballing properties that need some work and am getting a lot excepted.

What city is this in?

For instance, when I began to buy foreclosures in Calif years ago, a city lien placed on the property tomorrow would still be junior to a state lien or Fed lien placed on it a month from now.  

After just this property, I now have a an established rapport with contractors, real estate agents, attorneys, city officials and bankers.

We are currently interested in beginning in Ozaukee County in SE Wisconsin, specifically the cities of Cedarburg, Grafton and Port Washington.We welcome any advice and relationships that come with this along the way.

Lincolnville is way over priced now that the hipsters have discovered it and of course it was flooded during hurricane Matthew...now the city might make you bring the buildings up to code which can include lifting the houses up ....I would be very careful about any "deals" that suddenly pop up ...here is an article that explains ithttp://staugustine.com/news-local-news/2016-10-28/hurricane-repairs-st-augustine-flood-elevation-standards-could-be-concern

So,  If you have any great referrals in Atlanta New York or  Virginia I am very interested.

Money is tight I don't have the 30% to put down and New York is a real sellers market.