Read books, listen to podcasts, browse the forums, even take a class or two on different aspects of real estate (there are plenty of free ones online).Also, you mentioned the BRRRR method, but are you looking at single-family or multi-family, have you considered house hacking?

I look forward to interfacing more with this great community!

The mortgage brokers I am familiar with work primarily with (or exclusively with) the GSE (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, ...) underwriting criteria (was DU before, not sure if that is the main interface now) and virtually 100% of them sell off the loan at closing. 

I've gathered from browsing a few years-old threads that the REIA scene is pretty dead. 

I can't count how many wanna be wholesalers I know browsing craigslist or other sites saying to themselves "one day, I'll get a deal!"..

@James WilliamsonIf you are familiar with AutoCad, there are alternative free CAD software tools that pretty do the same thing with pretty much the same interface...

I've had a browse of bigger pockets recommended reading but can anyone recommend books that would be specific to NYC market?

Back in Sept, 2016 I was just 9 months into real estate investing and I was browsing Zillow for fun as I usually do.

I'll browse that market to get a better idea as well

I recommend you browse through some of the other articles here for ideas on beds etc.