And thankfully, by the time I needed to execute on those options and actually complete the purchase of the leased properties, I had developed some private lender relationships that allowed me to complete those 3 transactions and several more thereafter.

FB is not my fav, they are neither professional nor private. 

Securing loans with a low credit score is possible through private or HM lenders.

As others have commented, this is a scenario where you will have most luck with a private individual lender or some other local financing - just too small for pretty much all the national platform hard money lenders

Private message me if you need someone local.  

I've committed myself to being a full-time real estate investor, private money broker and real estate consultant!

Biggest issue is contractor realizes they have leverage over you, so timeline slips and costs escalate.

I have private money family friend who wants to fund multiple investments and since I come from the construction industry they are confident in my ability to rehab properties.

My biggest hesitations with keeping this property is the rental market is pretty saturated and I’ve heard of some investors having to significantly drop their rent or have prolonged vacancies.

And yes, biggest risk is letting it sit for 12 months.