i would do a 5% down loan.

I like doing business there.

Quote from @Lee Banks: Hi my name is Lee I'm looking too buy my first rental property and but I feel as if I need a mentor to watch, I still need to learn the basics of real-estate does anyone in New York do programs or mentorships and where would you start if you first started real-estate today  Hello Lee,I'd recommend looking up local meetups here on BP, meetup.com and, eventbrite.You can also call around to speak with RE investors and professionals in your target market to begin making connections.With so much available information online, I'd recommend speaking to a few people and doing independent research before committing to mentorships.

Cats do more damage than dogs in my opinion.  2.

Yes, PMC's operate on slim margins with minimal staff - why do you think that is?

Do you check Landlord references?

You spend a lot of time and money having people do this work, and at the end of the day you don't net any more income compared to a long term rental.

Do I need to choose a location close to home or farther away?

Just a none confrontational coffee meeting, "how's your family", what do you need from me so you can pay rent on time??  

Automating what spreadsheets already do is not useful since spreadsheets are already automated.