As far as the best place to buy a multi-family in NJ, I would recommend focusing on areas with good transportation and access to employment.  

Some back story: I have a deal that originally was going to be a flip but ended up holding it. 322K purchase price, put 55k into renovations and it now rents for $3250 in Duxbury MA, 40 minutes outside Boston.  

I have a 2 family in East Boston, MA that had some work in place for a basement apartment when I bought it. 

Chris May Tom Mole Something that I've recently thought of/been concerned about as I've been speaking with brokers and doing the numbers is PMI related to FHA loansFYI, I believe I'm in a similar situation as you Chris as I'm looking to buy and hold a 2-3 unit property (but I love hearing the formulas Tom so share away haha)In the Malden/Everett (near Boston,MA) markets, duplexes go from 400-800k and the particular units I've been looking at approx 600k is giving me a monthly PMI of 425...

The total market size is about 1.1m and we're very close to Boston - NYC so it's not really a small town.

@Sarah Williams I just did something similar where I rent my primary residence in Boston and purchased my first home (never had a mortgage before) in Vermont.

Should be around 800-1000 (ie 4 hrs ar 120 + 300 transport, or 8 hrs at 100 + 200 transport), more cleaner works.

Hello fellow BP members,I am a week old BP member, wanted to say a quick Hi to everyone in the forum.A li'l bit about me: I am a software engineer at Boston, looking to passively invest in real estate. 

@Christopher Brainard Is it possible that these markets like Boston, NY, San Fran, etc. become profitable again, with a correction to their base values?

Hi everyone my name is Austin Robinson I'm a new Real Estate investor from a suburb near Boston Ma.