Since you appear to live in Brooklyn I assume you will rely on a 3rd party property manager.

Think of it this way you are creating living space and it needs to be safe.

Get the best possible location you can afford and let your guests subsidize your living expenses. 

I only took out a 50K heloc though when I was living there cause I didn't want to be tempted.

If I still lived in SoCal, I would still buy out of state.

Hi Everyone,I live in NYC and looking to invest in the Harrisburg, PA area.

I try not to do referrals in the forums due to the fact that these messages live on in perpetuity, and who I am recommending today might be completely different than who I am recommending a year or two down the road.

I live in Stormstown and work in State College. 

Goal: Build a passive income from rentals that will allow my husband, my daughter, and myself to live on mission for Jesus Christ.

You might want to expand your scope to search for SFH+ADU, and live in the ADU portion.