I see you are in NY. As

Do you know of any good commercial lenders in NY as well?

JPMorgan out of NY - a trustee sued financial institutions claiming that broadly syndicated loans were securities. 

we currently live in long island, and was thinking of upstate NY, as that would be a drive away, if we ever decide to convert the STR to our vacation home.

I'm a notary in NY.  As

I’m from Cameron NY as the location thing wouldn’t allow me to put my town I live in for some reason.

Handyman Jr *just* because I felt sorry for him not getting any work with his dad these days cause his dad continues to masquerade as a (licensed) contractor and quoting 'contractor' prices as if he's insured and everything, when he's not.If I do not incorporate but just wait for my contractor license to go thru (the business name they require applicants to chose on the CSLB application is in my case, simply my first and last name, as that's how I did biz in NY as a GC) do I still have to pay FTB $800/yr, and even if I dont do business my first year?

I'm in NY as well Ling, let me tell you its not easy finding a property that us beginners can afford and deal with here.

I think it would be difficult to house hack here due to the high cost of real estate; I also avoid investing in NY as it is not a landlord friendly state.  

Even on most DSCR loans, you'll be looking at 20% down, so your best bet for low(er) down payment would be to utilize a BRRRR strategy with a rehab-focused bridge loan into a DSCR to get it stabilized and cash flowing.Be sure when you talk with potential lenders to make sure that they are licensed to operate in NY as well.