I've been searching for and working towards purchasing my first investment property for years and years, every time I found one that fit, other local investors with more experience, more readily available funds or alternative financing, and more connections were already writing offers while I was touring the property.

Alternative way could be purchasing this property with normal conventional rehab loan, which is a standard 30 year fixed loan + rehab funds being funded up to 95% LTV.

Have you thought about investing in gas and oil with about a 9 to 10 % roi.. its a 1031 exchange alternative of like kind. 

If there's an alternative method that has worked for you, please share. 

As an alternative solution, we've placed QR codes in the units which takes people to a form they need to fill out with all the information they want to collect.

You may also find certain markets where alternative rent strategies (MTR, STR, rent by room, etc) produce enough extra income to justify the increased work involved but the difference in income from the different rent strategies in many markets is just sufficient to justify the increase in effort involved.$100k is going to be challenging in coastal CA cities.  

That said sometimes when people don’t get thier ego stroked they say all the popular buzz words.

Your other alternative is partnering with someone who has the W-2 / who is loanable and they can make up your lack of W-2 / income.

This will be hugely popular and it will pass if he gets the chance.

$29.99 Blink Video Doorbell - https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Video-Doorbell/dp/B08SG2MS3VA popular alternative to the Ring.