I am looking to make a couple connections now during the moving process.

Quote from @Michael Challenger: I have no qualms with hard money lending, but I need to learn more about the process and structure to these for typical deals so that I am more comfortable and in a position to reduce my personal risk and risk to investors as much as possible.

Thank you for the very thorough and clear thought process.

I just got off the phone today with an investor-friendly real estate agent in another state (not NYS) who has a whole team behind her and has made it seem as if real estate investing is a much simpler process.

I just went throught the entire screening process and its more like $6,800. 

You need to be extremely organized and create processes and systems.

The more you know ahead of time, the easier the process will be.

Additionally, I expect applicants to follow instructions in the advertisement and application, to make and keep appointments, to show up on time for appointments, dress and behave appropriately at appointments, and in general demonstrate throughout the process that they are someone that is easy and pleasant to do business with.

It's just the nature of the business.

Here's an example process and timeline for New Jersey: https://www.doorloop.com/laws/new-jersey-eviction-process