Even places like Lynn are seeing revitalization because of the commuter rail and quick access into the city!

We are a couple - enjoy nature, going out to eat/drink maybe once or twice a month.As of now, I plan to do a 30 year FHA owner occupied - after 1 year I will move out so all units will be rented out and I should be cashflow positive around $500 or so.

@Sophia Dai take a look at HackensackThe city is in a time of revitalization and will continue to growLook in and around main stIt has easy access to all major highways and offers an easy commute to NYCBest of luck

@Benjamin SussmanJust be mindful that your bookkeeping will not be as simple since you are househacking.You will have payments that are personal in nature - non-deductibleYou will have payments that are business in nature - fully deductibleYou will have payments that are personal and business - partially deductibleIf you are keeping the books to use for your tax return, you may just need to have a proper setup with instructions on how to properly categorize items.

When I'm not being Army or working my W2, I'm exploring nature.

That’s the nature of the business.

if possible i would do natural gas its fairly cheap. but please do not put electric base boards. your tenants may want to find out where you live and rob you. i just took the ones i had in a unit out. tenant was on old lease from previous owner. my first bill was 500$. for more information it is a 2 bedroom second floor newer windows and about 950 sq.ft. 

Or better to wait and redo units as they naturally open up? 

Have a great investing mindset, enjoy all aspects of construction, and am very much a natural handy-man. 

Philadelphia is in the midst of a renaissance …There is considerable investment being made by Colleges and Hospitals as well as public funds that are being directed to vacant site revitalization, in addition to, under-utilized current development (like the proposed Penn's Landing project and Waterfront development).This investment in combination with the fact that Philadelphia has the highest poverty rate per capita versus any other major metro area, creates conditions that are ripe for development.