And by the contractor having skin in the game, the GC would not likely draw our the process and it would be done quicker with attention to the finished product since he/she will profit from a home that will sell quickly.

Everything looks and sounds very straight forward and the quicker we get this done obviously the better.

Your asset will appreciate at almost the same percentage as a home in a A neighborhood, and you will find more deals quicker and easier in the B/C neighborhoods. 

Zero Balance is supposedly quicker, just started one of those last week so we'll see.  

It's kind of frustrating that the program doesn't make it a quicker process for both the landlord and tenants.

The remodel would be much quicker, and easier.

I would raise the post above the new cement and even then avoid having wood touch the cement as the bottom will simply rot over time quicker if they are in direct contact. 

I have also found that residential loans close quicker (but that may just be our bank)  For those reasons I prefer residential loans.  

Since the goal is to build a portfolio, is there a smarter or quicker way to land our first investment property? 

Buy renovate and flip, buy renovate and flip, and again buy renovate and flip, it's like reps in a workout. 1,2 or 3 houses, the quicker you flip the better you are.