I'm in a position right now where I am ok taking some risk and very interested in taking our investing to the next level.

Make it such when it is time to pull the trigger, you are ready to jump in. Take

I would very much like to get into home investing and seeking someone who would be interested in taking a junior investor under their wing.  

Then I verify they have at least three times the rent in take home pay and I check their current residence for cleanliness. 

My big question is this....I already know I am not interested in taking on flip projects anywhere in the immediate area of new york city, for obvious reasons....I'm too new to this to take on that kind of risk, the prices are crazy, and it looks like you need big investments to make small immediate rewards. 

You would with any lease over 3 years as well or in taking an option to buy.Then, you own it.

welcome here and congrats in taking the next step.I invested out of States many times and now there are diffenrent list availables, over 1000 a month, that makes it a lot easier now, and also 3 houses for $50k with turn key program for lease-option buyers... pretty amazing how the market OOS evolved a lot since I started OOS in 2008, barely speaking English and being from Canada, with all the problems I had to overcome.In California, I discovered that right now, the condos 1br/1ba in Long Beach are the ones who can provide some equity and cash-flow. :-)Good luck and we are here to help!

About 15 yrs ago I was a full time contractor who specialized in taking rental homes that were battered and bruised and getting them ready to sell. 

Any advice/tips is most welcome and thanks in advance in taking time to help me in my learning process.  

If you have not learned this by following listings cradle to grave you are premature in taking action