I do not have a traditional W2 job so I can't pursue the typical conventional loan or a FHA since I don't have income (hence the DSCR route).However, I've seen that most DSCR lenders do not lend if the loan amount is less than $100K.

I like the idea of getting a great deal, so should I take a pay cut, invest in getting my real estate's license, go the CCIM route, and find a broker to sponsor me until I'm a CRE broker and earn of the commission and get into bigger deals as a GP?

The other route you can look into is purchase+rehab loans if it's going to be a primary, if it's an investment then using hard money, bridge loan, or DSCR.

I want to go the buy-and-hold route, and I am interested in finding a duplex that will provide a steady cash flow, a high appreciation value and does not need renovations.

One thing to be careful with though is that if you go the personal loan route, you need to ensure your DTI is still fine and you will still qualify for your VA loan assumption AND the second mortgage.

What caused you to (likely) lean that route over all those other options out there?

Be careful on "closing the pass through door" if it's designated as the second escape route. 

I drove up route 9 thru Schodack, Greenbush and Rensselaer the other week and those campuses are huge.

You can also try the travelling nurses route, a lot of them are looking for low cost housing when in town. 

Furthermore, it is on a very busy, very dangerous state route that is saturated with crime.