The good news is that you, as the borrower, would be able to discuss the property, great sales comps, and highlight it's improvements (if any) and put it in the best light as possible to help influence the appraisal.

So many people let the fear of the unknown influence their decisions!

If you can get a 4 unit and a basement, that would be ideal and create major cash flow and equity creation, plus you can not worry about a property manager and boost your yield.Personally, I am very bullish on New York and NYC itself.

You can get into your first property with as little as 3-3.5% down but when you factor in closing costs, attorney fee, inspection, appraisal and miscellaneous expenses, you're looking at an ALL-IN 10% up front expense for your first deal.In addition to boosting your buying power through saving and building your credit, you should also be building your network.

But that's just me.However.  3% is the normal buyer agent commission I'm used to seeing, so if there's any possible way, including a short term signature loan to boost your cash position, that you can create a scenario where your buyer agent gets 3%, I would be surprised if he were to walk away from that.

Your sanity and peace of mind will be more intact on that path and you'll also have more time available to keep on with certifications and eventually an MBA to boost your income even more.3)  Once the income stream ("just over broke" as Robert Kiyosaki calls a "job") is in place to generate much-needed capital, I would settle into a very frugal life to begin with. 

Math, Psychology, English, Law, Physics (as it applies to such things as structures, etc.)As a boost to general life skills add logic and history.

The perk of this is you have multi units so you can raise the rents and boost the equity through forced appreciation.

The insurance looks a little high but that might be influenced by the hot tub or the age of the property. 

Adding millage typically needs to be passed by voters, but unless this is in an area with legislatively set value increases, county governments can normally get more aggressive on assessed values to help boost their coffers.