It isn't impossible but as @Jimmy Lieu mentioned, there is a steep learning curve.Depending on your liquidity, out-of-state buy & hold rentals could be your best bet if NYC investing is out of the picture.

The quicker you can take action on the high dollar value decsions the quicker you will be able to grow.For sure take the time to setup the right foundation, but keeping it simple and easy when you are getting going is a safe bet!

If your goal is less required documentation, DSCR is likely your best bet as most everyone as mentioned, possibly a bank statement program depending on your job structure. 

I'd bet on Austin over 30 years, but again, not necessarily relative to SFO. 

Your best bet would be to find a portfolio lender whose niche aligns with your investment strategy. 

If you kept the property, and accumulated the CF/yr, it would take you 25 years to get that same equity that's sitting, frozen in your property.Also, if you cashed out and used that same equity as a DP on different RE, at 20% DP, that equity would buy you $2M in PV, not just $700k,...and, I'd be willing to bet, you could find new RE that would have a yearly CF well over $20k/year.On top of that (remembering my initial statement above), any appreciation applied would be applied to $2M, not just $700k. 

You bet.

I bet people will not be getting paid their dividends very soon.

I am betting a lot of media is going to be coming out of how under insured people were because to be fully covered was "too expensive".

This is a humongous audience to tap into so you have to take advantage of it sooner rather than later to find great real estate deals and motivated sellers.Your best bet to connect with people quickly is to run Facebook ads and promoted posts.