There have been sweeping changes in L/T laws in NYS in the last 5 years. 

LMK if you need any help accessing those tools on BiggerPockets.

Consider the family who’ll eventually live there..maybe they’ll appreciate a second-floor deck accessible from a common hallway, where everyone can enjoy it, rather than limiting it to a single bedroom.

I helped the owner structure the seller finance and off-market offer to be closed more easily (more accessible to the buyer) through mixed financing and a lower price.

If someone represents themselves as private lenders, check them on NMLS consumer access to see if they are licensed.

I have been accessing the results with no problem in the past, but something has changed on the site.  

But for an OOS investor one consideration is access to support, first of all PM & contractors, and you have more choices in the much larger Milwaukee metro area than in a smaller submarket.

Many investors get their license for access to MLS and/or to save money on real estate commissions when they buy & sell.It's a good strategy, but only if you are doing VOLUME!

Do the guests have access to see their own reviews by hosts?  

You can actually to to the NMLS's consumer access page to look up a lender to check licensing.