Ask contractors if they are licensed and bonded before even meeting them at the property.

Some feel that real estate is a viable alternative to bonds and others feel they are not.

If you are not planning to live in NYC for a long time then I think you better off investing in an area with a better cash flow...If you have in mind your next destination after NYC then you should probably research that area...NYC is like investing in bonds...very safe...but very low if any returns...Managing an apartment in the city can be quite difficult.

@Elmer Bonilla You can find solid deals in all 3 markets, but Columbus behaves more like Austin TX than a city in Ohio...the city has one of the strongest financial positions in the nation right now with AAA bond ratings and rainy day funds maxed...with a windfall of tax revenue...all during COVID-19.

If he is licenced and bonded, he should know better and be responsible for his work! 

Lastly, some larger jobs require a performance bond from the contractor.2.

I am a licensed, insured, bonded GC but I have only utilized my services for my own projects. 

REIT dividends are ordinary income and are therefore best suited to tax-exempt and tax-deferred accounts.Qualified dividends, growth stocks that don't pay dividends, and muni bonds are better suited to taxable accounts. 

Does their bond?

., 5%, $14K+ balance), contributing $50/mo. to a very small emergency fund ($2K balance, 1%) in a HYSA, also contributing $50/mo. to I-savings bonds from Treasury Direct ($1K balance, 9.6%), have a small amount of shares in brokerage account ($1.5K - towards risky tech stocks), no other assets or real estate, no crypto, no pets, no subscriptions, no utilities, no car, no rent/mortgage (live free w/fam), no phone/internet/tv bills.