I am just trying to evaluate options to keep the low monthly payments and at the same time update the building to keep it.

If you call them with an aggressive or defensive tone of voice, the likelihood that the activity will continue, or even increase, is strong. 

TL;DR: Low level card tester for a local stolen card ring decides to take a mini staycation, gets the fraud ring busted.

Home prices remain low and rent demands remain strong. 

In all likelihood, your family will only "save" half the commission (~3%) as almost all properties sell with a co-broke commission.  

I'm assuming if it's a buy and hold you're accounting for the highs and lows the RE industry goes through?

If your budget is low try Bayonne a little further south but still fairly easy to get to Manhattan.

Check out the Spokane market, some great opportunity with very low vacancy rates.

Management is low margin and full of headaches...maybe not with only one property but even with one...picking the wrong tenant or not knowing how to hire the right repair contractor can cause problems and ultimately vacancy...vacancy kills profit...My two cents.Greg

I don’t like the idea of a lock because it is low class for where my building is.