I think you lost me in all of your paragraphs.What are the following numbers:In Place Rent:Existing Debt Service:Existing Peripherals (Taxes, Insurance, Association,Maintenance, Utilities):Property Tax Rate:Also... when you say you "put a ton of money into it"...

It would at worst be a waste of time, but I doubt you'd turn them off with truthful but peripheral info.

I do appreciate your sharing your lessons from the ordeal so at least something positive and useful, no matter how small or peripheral, was able to come from it.  

If flying over is not an option for you,, I think you have no choice but to wait the 6 months out and get yourself ready with all the peripherals - solidify your plan of action and market,  reach out to potential partners and suppliers, research financing options, insurance, management etc etc- so when you do finally get there- you can hit the ground running.The other option that I am now  getting more involved in slowly - is online  crowdfunding - A lot less hands on- but far more doable long distance.All the best

It may be peripheral to them.

I'm looking to begin investing in buy-and-hold properties in peripheral NYC markets: Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, Upper Manhattan. 

Could be that THEY have sewage issues that originated peripherally (above ground) and they are merely complaining about their problem specific to their lot.

Those are solid picks.In this market, potentially looking at the peripheral markets that haven't appreciated as much but still are in proximity to the main market areas are worth taking a look at.

These typically spark other peripheral inquiries that tend to help better inform how we structure the deal. 

I’m not familiar with the Bay Area’s peripheral towns, however look into the Central Valley.