I have been kicking around the idea of getting my license in New York even though I am not actively looking at real estate in NY or do I really intend to get a job as an agent. 

I'd echo the idea of house hacking initially. 

It can be worth giving them a call or stopping by their office to see what's available.

Seek at least one that has office(s) in the state where the properties are located. 

It is an area we frequently visit, so it would be easy for us to check on our property when in town and we like the idea of investing "in our backyard" for our first property before branching out into different markets.

Our offices are in Pasadena,CA and I live in Claremont, CA.

I like the idea of a duplex (or more units), long term tenants.I was wondering if our area just doesn't add up, or if I'm missing something.I saw an older duplex for 480,000.

While I'm intrigued by the idea of DSCR financing and hard money lenders, I feel they might be a bit too pricey and risky for me at this point.That said, I'm excited about the prospect of partnering with someone on a deal, whether it's as a minority partner bringing value through sourcing deals or as an equal partner sharing the workload.If you're on the lookout for a young, motivated investor to collaborate with on future opportunities, I'd love to chat.

Castel, Founder & Owner, Restoration Capital, www.RestorationCapital.com, Main - 800.877.0883, Direct - 703.298.5044, Fax - 202.204.4866Title Company:Universal Title & Escrow, Pam Godrey (stafford office)Pamela Godfrey, Manager, Stafford Office, Direct: 703-468-1201, O: 540-228-1409

So, if you have any ideas, insights, or stories to share, please don't hesitate to chime in!