If you can qualify by yourself, then that will enable your wife to use her FHA in the future as well if the house in jersey is not FHA or VA.

Some examples include NY, New Jersey, DC, Mass, California, Washington, Oregon, Maryland).Follow BiggerPockets own Dave Meyer because he regularly crunches the data and discusses the best markets to invest in: https://www.biggerpockets.com/...You want a state that has fair Landlord-Tenant laws.

Many relocate from cities and states exponentially more expensive than our market such as New York, New Jersey, Charlotte, the Mid West & West Coast.      3.

Eric, you might want to consider joining a RE investors group like the South Jersey Real Estate Investors Association (SJREIA.com) or look for a REIA in North Jersey.

I want to focus on North Jersey.

This map of New Jersey household income could be one starting point.

Maybe a seasoned "Jersey investor" can "chime-in" with a definitive answer for you?

., Maryland, Colorado, California, Arizona, Nevada, Jersey, and a bunch of other MJ-friendly states.

Pretty much anyone that is good is on other jobs right now, if you have enough work look in the surrounding Jersey areas too, some of those guys will travel if they aren't already swamped. 

I made that mistake in my early 20’s one weekend down at the jersey shore.