I know bars are closed so that would be a no go for a while but thought I'd see if there was any interest.

I live in New York but I have lived in Chambersburg and State College for most of my life so I have some experiences with those two markets. 

Yes New York is way over priced.

I have been listening to the Bigger Pockets podcasts for a few years and am now finally looking to get into real estate investing.I am from New York originally.

Agreed with @Russell Brazil, I do title work in Utah (presumably very different from New York), but everything looks really normal other than the property/transfer taxes, and that just sounds like the cost of business in that state.Why are you paying the seller's share then, is this a distressed seller you're buying it from?

Barring some exceptional facts, this is not the area you need to focus on cost control. 

Take out all the bad, lighting, ceiling fans,switch plates,towel rods,shower surround,tubs,carpet,flooring.Then remove walls usually open up the kitchen trying to fit in an island or bar.

(Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, California, Texas, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arizona, Nevada)https://www.housingwire.com/articles/fed-says-expect-low-rates-through-2023/

Alec York, my suggestion would be to find you a good list broker ( I use Mike Altman)who can get you a list of investors who own 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. properties inthe zip code that your deal is in. 

The moratorium states that not only can you not evict, but can not serve notice of evictions or lease terminations UNLESS it meets the high bar qualification for illegal activity at property as listed in state statute (basically they must be caught for running ti as a crack house) or tenants are putting other tenants in immediate danger of harm (think domestic issues case, and have to have proof such as police reports) or significant damage to property (state attorney general put this bar so high that it's things like concrete down drains or stripping home, over the top extreme things).