Our team buys the properties and converts them and manages them so it has been a great learning experience seeing all three phases from taking down a project, renovating the building then managing the lease up.

Any contacts in setting a good team of contractors (general purpose) and cleaners? 

Buying an out of state rental property from a realtor, wholesaler or off facebook or zillow etc as opposed to from an operation or turnkey provider who has an active, substancial, and effective boots on the ground team or teams to support you after you close on the sale. 

Based on some of the previous similar threads, it seems that having a good cross-border team is a crucial step in this game.

@Brandon Croucier is giving you solid info on finding an experienced and honest mortgage broker who can shop your exact scenario both ways, with the rehab and without and break down the benefits of each with all fees so you can see an apples to apples comparison. 

Build a team with all that time in the morning and and the time you have by walking up early etc. 

Experienced developers, could you tell me how the process/financing works?

Hey Themis, it sounds like you already have a solid foundation in real estate from working in the commercial industry, so it should be a pretty smooth transition into doing your own investments.I would put a lot of focus on building out your team of contractors.

Skills or qualities in no particular order: Communication, patience, empathy, listening ear, backbone, resilience, determination, organization, work ethic, lead a team, thick skin, time management, trusts their instinct, and all-around good ethics! 

Loan officers with 25 years of experience typically are more experienced, and have less time per file, because they have an abundance of files.Loan officers with 25 months of experience typically are less experienced, but have more time to devote to you.I can't write my own loans, so when I'm getting a loan I prefer working with less busy people when I'm doing my own real estate investment, they're more responsive and dedicated it feels like.