My strategy has been to grow aggressively (by using as little of my own money as possible) to secure good assets, and once stabilized, then work to pay down loans to own them free and clear sooner rather than later. 

If they don't you personal financial situation plays a bigger part in securing a loan. 

My main concern is whether it's hard to meet their criteria for properties and secure funding.

We had to wait out the First Look period, but once that passed, we secured the property below market value.

Seller Financing I am the buyer with 30 days to purchase the property and want to simultaneously market it as rent-to-own,  how can I structure the process effectively:Can I structure the deal this way, so I can secure a tenant-buyer while working to close on the home myself,  minimizing my risk and creating a win-win situation.

I am house hacking my unit and is there any difference in those processes as opposed to a regular rental property?

Known for earthquakes or regular settling?

You will have sunk about 14k plus closing costs into the deal.In a few months the work is done and you get a PM to find you a tenant and get a lease and collect first month and security and now you can do a 75% cash out on that 215k. 

IMO I do not believe they properly screened my tenant, just placed a tenant so they wouldn't have to cover the mortgage until a proper tenant was secured.

Here in TN brokerages regularly hold EM deposits; I have a dedicated account for such deposits myself, by law, even though I don't actively broker RE but just maintain my brokerage for the PM side of things.