Based on my research, I will need a builders' policy.

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.

Should I do my research and still aim for 10k on the deal?

To safeguard yourself and your investments, it is crucial to conduct thorough research before engaging with any lending entity.

They are a great person & I wish them the best of luck for future work.However, I'm somehow unable to justify the $25k+ I am expected to pay to them as commission on each $1M invested.If I am researching the market myself, creating comps myself, reviewing each disclosure myself, working with the mortgage lender myself, finding problems in the homes myself -  what is the value add that the agent is bringing to the table that I can't execute myself?

Property managers and agents can be really helpful as well as they’ll give you insight into the market and could have some opportunities for you down the road.In the meantime, try researching the areas you're interested in.

I am researching VA OTC loans in Southern California (Los Angeles County). 

So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

This is from research I've done for you.If you have any questions DM me or email me!

I've researched many aspects of REI for many years and haven't taken the leap.