I’m planning to start by buying in Buffalo to gain experience and learn the ropes.

Northern New Jersey has very little land, therefore the price to buy land is too high unless you somehow get it at a great price.

I’m not planning on buying until 2026 so where do you go for real estate news and market trends?  

Investment Info:Single-family residence buy & hold investment.

Seems like his option will be to buy it with a conventional loan with 5% down.

I think asset prices will continue to grow, areas where millennials can buy affordable real estate will be where I'm setting my sights on.  

Quote from @Hunter Hanlon Taylor: Investment Info:Single-family residence buy & hold investment.

I have not heard of one of those, but am gearing up to buy my second house and could possibly use some sort of loan program like that!  

We are in both of those markets for fix and flips & buy and holds.

And even if they do, they have to be fairly motivated to be willing to do so (even if you've built rapport and all that good stuff).If they are motivated, usually that means the property needs work and they almost certainly won't lend over and above what you buy the property for.