Yup, live in Chicagoland and travel to Michigan to do all my investing.

I apologize for the tardiness of my reply, but I was traveling out of the country for a bit and had limited internet access.  

Hi All - new to the game here. currently rent and work in manhattan, plan was to buy a SFH in jersey and house hack to begin then possibly look to add duplexes to inventory. problem is I am not familiar with north jersey and my sights are sent on bergen county (ft lee/edgewater/cliffside park/palisades,etc) Can anyone help me understand the areas best to help me achieve goals, so far i've only travelled to teaneck and from what i've seen it is not a place i would like to walk out at night.

I recently got access to an off market package of 20 properties and am having trouble analyzing them. 

I love my career and don't want to leave it, but I do want to get to a place where my fixed expenses are super, super low, so that if I want to strike out on my own and start a business, travel the world, etc.

You know the different configurations and packages.

Coming hot off the heels of a house in an entry-level neighborhood that had an appliance package stolen.That being said, we've done well on higher-end houses, and we've done well on lower-end houses, and we've taken it on the chin on both as well when markets changed on us.

The husband travelled for work a lot, so my showings had to be scheduled for when he was in town or when no one was going to be home at all.  

NOTE:  I may have to travel to enjoy this reward. :) 

I have been working with a mortgage broker from a bank but I am looking to get the best loan package possible.Is it better to go directly to a bank for a mortgage, or go to one of these private businesses/mortgage companies that operate in strip malls or individual offices.Basically my question is this, if I go to the bank, am I going directly to the source so I can get a better loan package, or is it better to go to one of these independent mortgage companies?