Always underwrite conservatively Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

With over 30 years of experience in Commercial Real Estate, I specialize in the sales and dispositions of investment properties across Los Angeles and the U.S.  

Think through why you even want to invest in real estate in the first place.

If you are looking to be very active and run like Mid or short term rentals yourself, or do flips, then you can, but this does not come without risk. if you are looking to pull money out and put it to work in other real estate so it can appreciate over time so you have a larger base of assets that are paid down or off in the future with some cost now, then I do think that is possible. 10% returns as a passive investor, especially in the first couple years is not likely. 

Since you're open to markets beyond NYC, you might want to connect with local investor meetups or REI groups in those areas to build relationships with agents, wholesalers, and lenders who understand the nuances of each market.If you're looking to break out of analysis paralysis, maybe start by narrowing down one or two target markets and running numbers on actual deals.

You may want to network with other investors locally through your real estate investment club.

We're both investor agents and we talk to the builders and work deals to get the best rates and incentives.

I'm new to real estate investing I didn't even get started yet, I'm just looking for a way to get my foot in the door because I know if I don't I never will 

Real estate investing can be an effective way to build long-term wealth, and among the various strategies, one has gained significant popularity over the years: BRRRR.

Im generally distrustful of most people/funds in the real estate world.