I'm happy to trade architetural advice-

Middlemen or straw man deals were probably done when man began walking the earth, trading a spear for a rock tied on a stick or for something more valuable.

If the taxes are $1,000 per year higher than another city but you can get a house for $30,000 less than you can elsewhere, is that a good trade off?

The trade off is the low vacancy rates and price stability in the long term.The best way I've seen investors make money in NYC is by adding significant value to rental properties.

Willing to do work/trade for edu, and hands-on expereince.

I am also in the building trades, and the requests have been insane, it is like how the gold rush was described back in school.

Do you really feel there should be 0 consequence on your end for the short sale?

It will cost you $65-$75 per trade call, but well worth it to have major items covered. 

How long have you projected you're going to be holding this for (including time to rehab) $750K properties don't trade quickly. 

However, when you trade the simplicity of having only one unit for the economics of having two, you are beginning down the road of long-term stability.If you have one unit, and the unit is vacant, guess what your vacancy rate is that month?