Generally a HELOC is second position and might have seasoning requirements (ownership of 3-6+ mos) you would need sufficient equity to essentially 'recapture' your down payment. 

Here are some insights into loan types and potential programs that could be advantageous for your situation: FHA Loan,Conventional Loans with Low Down Payment,Local Bank Programs,Grants and Assistance Programs,When exploring loan options and assistance programs, it's important to compare the terms, eligibility requirements, and overall costs to find the best fit for your financial situation and goals.

Support/Maintenance requests would be high since the system is too complicated3.

While this has been a passion of mine for some time, the substantial capital required has kept me on the sidelines.

This increased the required household income to purchase the median-priced home by $6,400, to $119,700, after also accounting for the cost of tax and insurance.

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

No, you cannot use your VA eligibility to bid on a home at a foreclosure sale in New York.Once the sale has occurred, if the property reverts back to the lender (Meaning it didn't' sell to a 3rd party), then yes, you can use your VA eligibility to purchase, if the seller (Bank/servicer/credit union, etc.) accepts your offer, and, if the property meets VA requirements (Section 1, etc.).I sell the REO my bank takes back and I don't like VA because they try to stick me with fees and try to make me do repairs that we just aren't going to do.

That question will require an essay to answer every part of your question :) With stocks, you mostly gamble on appreciation.

Real estate investing is indeed a journey that requires effort, patience, and adapting to market conditions.

My thought process is to purchase the property initially under my name so that we can pay 5% down as my understanding is that mortgages to LLCs are more difficult to find, have higher interest rates, and require a higher down payment (around 25%).