It isn't impossible but as @Jimmy Lieu mentioned, there is a steep learning curve.Depending on your liquidity, out-of-state buy & hold rentals could be your best bet if NYC investing is out of the picture.

I get it, but customers never seem to understand.   

My current tenant has removed a picture from the wall and replaced the provided bedding with their own belongings. 

* Do you provide move in and move out reports * How many pictures do you take of the property prior to tenant moves in and after the tenant moves out* Do you get weekly reports when the property is vacant what prospective tenants are saying about your home* Do you provide monthly newsletters to your tenants* Do you hold investor education classes to help me become a better investor* Do you have single point portfolio based management services?

Take pictures of all the properties you like, regardless if they will make you money, and regardless of the cost. 

Picture this, your driving down the road and come to a 4-way stop, what do you do?

If you intended me to take something else from that picture, such as an unfortunate motor vehicle accident, let me know.

Hopefully we get some better virtual furniture in listing pictures lol

Very much agree with the big-picture national rent forecast Scott provided here.

But the answer for everyone may differ.Here are the personal attributes I see in those able to achieve a higher than market ROI, enough higher to be able to “scale”.1- Knowledge of real estate principles, real estate law and real estate finance2- Minimum 3 -5 years full time, or near full time experience directly related to real estate investing3- Ability to utilize technology for increased efficiency, capacity, and accuracy4- Excellent hired legal counsel and excellent hired marketing help5- Established method(s) of obtaining consistently high QUALITY deal flow6- Ability to manage and choose people who are NOT employees: Attorneys, Appraisers, Mortgage Brokers, Real Estate Brokers, Title Companies, Surveyors, Marketing Specialists, Accountants, Contractors, Consultants, Property Managers7- A VERIFIABLE track record of success8- Ability to identify, analyze, and negotiate a deal that can be “worked” for “enhanced” ROI9- Some type of competitive advantage; for example for me it’s my ability to analyze and identify mortgage loans that are actually less risky than all other lenders believe (on the investing in debt side), and on the real property side it’s my ability to analyze”pull the trigger” with LESS information than other investors need,  combined with the ability to pay cash, or raise significant capital almost instantly as well as being able to obtain loans at the lowest prime customer bank rate with no recourse or personal liability.