Does anyone have particular tips on getting up to speed on this from a REI perspective? 

The investor has a clock ticking on costs whereas in the case of the homeowner client, they only want the speed out of convenience to "bring their toothbrush" moreover than worrying about holding costs so this penalty/bonus works much better with flipper clients.Where were you when I needed a good contractor Bruce?!

A personal loan may reduce the speed at which debt interest accumulates, but will have not by itself pay off debt faster. 

Lets just speed up the court process to see if it was a valid foreclosure or not.

@Alecia Loveless That's a great story and highlights why having the right person on speed dial makes a difference!

Be sure to get up to speed on ADU laws and the opportunities. 

They can be good option but I do not expect will save money, except as related to speed, over stick built in the US.  

Some things to think about:1) "I saw how easy it is to get a license here" - low barrier of entry is not a good sign2) "I currently own one rental in Columbia" - you have no idea what you don't knowWhile your enthusiasm is commendable, it won't pay the bills or increase your knowledge.Property management has a "million moving parts" and any one of them can trigger a disaster:(So, you may want to consider working part-time for an existing PMC to learn the ropes.Of course, you can also charge full speed ahead and see what happens...

We're hoping that speeds up the process and makes our lives a lot easier, controlling the money ourselves!

Also, Auburn and Lewiston do have separate Housing Authorities so be sure to contact the correct one to speed things up.