Although not easy, my research is telling me getting that first property is a straightforward process.

@Cat R. buy one of those police Stinger devices - you know, the spikes they throw across the rob to stop a perp dead in his tracks - then hide it in the grass across the path of where she drives. 

You can structure your asset protection strategy such way that you might be able to get some tax benefit  depending on what you do in your real estate investing, like if you self manage, or do flips, but just for holding, no tax advantage.Here is a diagram I put together from my learnings on the same path you are walking now 

Investing in real estate is not a path to success if you do not have anything to invest.

My entire office was absolutely convinced that the path to SUCCESS was to  work until you reached MRA (Minimum Retirement Age) Fear Set me Free.

What I need is a practical path to start here in NYC.

Let's not take the same approach with opportunities, in "missing" those that are in our path. 

No one path is correct and everyone has different goals and abilities.

I have done a lot of research, and I am well aware this path won't be easy, and it will take a lot of adjusting, especially with a kiddo on the way, but I'm determined to earn more for my daughter.

All this said, there isn’t just one good path.