I am 18 years old and living in San Francisco, looking to get into real estate investing.I have a ton of questions but some of the most nagging ones are the following:- Would it be easier as a young person with a lower income/credit history to buy a property cash, avoid any lenders, and then do a cash-out refi/HELOC after the purchase?

I have ~800 credit scores and pretty substantial primary income (i.e. not self employed, have solid income history and a decent DTI).4.

Also, male sure to check the prospective tenant's employment history, ask tenant for previous landlord (if available) and talk to him/her.

Without that, Realtors aren't even going to talk with you, much less run around showing you properties that you can't buy.Start by talking with a mortgage broker or a local lender like Rockland Trust, Eastern Bank, etc. 

Do you have any collections, judgments, evictions, or criminal history?

Property values fluxuate, but it could give you a rough idea on the history of the house. 

@Lucas Carl it's in a market that has a 100+ year history of both STR and LTR. 100% legal. i've spent a lot of time doing the research on this one. there's an opportunity here to buy some houses that have historically been used as LTR (these are large houses in good condition but unfurnished of course) and turn them into STR. really good opportunity here if i can figure out how to finance the cost of furniture!!

The best schools want you to have some work history too. 

@Colton Murray With properties 5 units and up, the commercial lenders will look at the numbers the building produces as well as look at your finances and investment history.

In NYC many tenants are foreigners (or sometimes students) without credit history or local employment who were willing to put up considerable rent in advance instead of a credit check.