Welcome Damian,I'm in NO too, and in the oil/gas business, as well as real estate investment.  

Try to stay around positive and optimistic people they will tend to look for solutions as some will just bring out and highlight the problems in a market.Houston is experiencing great positive growth in their luxury home market.In Houston you can get a decent read on the Real estate market by what goes on with the oil industry.I pray you have a prosperous career. 

@Charles D Cruz the $20k on rehab comes from:Windows/ exterior doors: $7,000 contractor will do this work.Appliances: $3,000Cabinets/kitchen floor: $7,000 New furnace: $3,000 (need to get rid of the fuel oil furnace and switch to NG)I know someone mentioned the cabinets just need to be painted but they are to far gone for that.

Gas forced air heat but there is a leaking oil tank in a shed on the side of the house.  

Electric is 35 a month and oil for heat is about 1200 a month for the winter months. water and sewer was 300 for the quarter.

~7 years professional experience, currently as a mid-level manager in a publicly traded oil company.

Zoning Variance is going to cost me $1,100 and that is more or less a given provided I comply with the following requirements.1: Handicapped Bathrooms.2: Letter from the sprinkler system's installer stating it is designed for a truck and heavy equipment repair facility.3: Sprinkler system monitoring service. 4: Floor drain with grease/oil-water separation capabilities.

20 years ago nobody was seeing Pennsylvania as an oil & gas producing state, today there are known reserves of a 100 year supply.All you can do is the best that you can do, looking at areas with low crime rates, good schools and prospects for growth.All you can do...is all you can do! 

Apply a coat of Minwax (oil-based) polyurethane with a different lambs wool applicator.  

Anyone out there using cashflow oil & gas investments to optimize their real estate portfolio?