My goal is to get the information for the neighborhoods I’m interested in then direct mail, cold call or just simply door-knock.

What is a reasonable return for an outside investor who is simply investing cash?

There’s plenty of previous threads on here on that topic and they usually conclude in a dead end.Second, as @Tyrone Osilesi pointed out, and as the name of the product implies, HELOCs are a line of credit based on the EQUITY in the property.

You couldInvest in your local marketInvest out of state (Long Distance Real Estate Investing)Partner with someone locally.Partner with someone out of your area (through a syndication perhaps)There are more ways to invest in real estate than simply buying a house in the area you live in, so even if your place in NY is crazy expensive, there are places nearby and all across the US that are less expensive and could be good places to pick up a home with your $20,000 and start working towards a stable of rental properties. 

I simply posed questions for others to answer.

Simply  find people that are doing deals in your market, they have deals.

Now, you need much more proof than simply a camera in the yard watching the booty call coming and going.

We simply choose to take care of it. 

You will never see them on Youtube or social media or podcasts.I would not back away from someone simply because they don't want to do a podcast or webinar. 

It simply means you haven't seen or understood the impact yet.