does anyone know any grant programs in the ny area , looking to buy an investment property as first time home buyer but not looking to lose my shirt

If there are any outstanding loans from the federal government they will have to be paid prior to ownership.

LOLJust go to the bank and ask them what they will require, they will be very informative, and if they are a portfolio lender, they may even have some programs available to you. 

Wishing you good luck with your investing program. 

Currently RI has this new program for college students, where they give new graduates $7k  down payment through their first home www.gradgrant.org. 

There are some guidelines with this program so definitely take a more in-depth look.

You may have to agree to live in the house for a certain number of years or agree to do a good amount of repairs, however this is definitely a program to search for in the area you’re looking to buy. 

The attorneys are thoroughly vetted by the program, and you get an initial consultation through the service with a local attorney who specializes in this area of practice.

If it is 100% vacant, there's a high probably it has been red tagged or deemed uninhabitable by the government agents and will require extensive and scrutinizing rehab under their very particular and money extorting eyes.

When signing the lease, they will all be liable equally for the entire term regardless if only one or two of them get orders to another area to continue their training or fail out of the program.