I may be able to obtain my license in NY and still use in CT.  

With a single family home having one vacancy means your investment is a total dud.Other benefits of commercial include no cap on the amount of financing you can obtain (residential mortgages cap at 10) and economies of scale.

I would like to obtain a fixed rate HELOC on my rental for 75% LTV.

I have yet to make my first purchase in real estate because I am looking to make my first buy be a multi family that I can house hack and all the information I have obtained has been from books and websites such as biggerpockets.

Key is to obtain primary residence loan though and lock it in for 30 years.  

A good place to start obtaining information about the state laws is https://www.landlordology.com/state-laws/.  

Finding Deals- The argument in favor of obtaining your real estate license is most often the access to the MLS.

Any person who engages in the business of a real estate broker or real estate salesperson without obtaining a license as provided in this chapter shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both, and shall be ineligible to obtain a license for one year from the date of conviction of such offense, except that the commission, in its discretion, may grant a license to such person within such one-year period upon application and after a hearing on such application.If you get a license or if you have a licensed agent or broker in your company, I think that is the way to go. 

I've been involved in real estate on Long Island as a loan officer, title rep and real estate paralegal so I'm not looking to work as an agent and just want to obtain the license for my own investing.  

Does anyone have advice on how to go about obtaining this property?