Aloha,Keep in mind, NO credit is usually far better than BAD credit...and credit is only one element of your screening criteria.

I come from a poor upbringing and don't really have family members that have any money.

Quote from @Luis Ramos: As a M.D. and Real Estate investor, I can attest that these poor business decisions come down to amount of schooling we have had.

I used Hanscom credit union, which I hear a decent amount from other investors in MA.

So if you have good credit and cash, it makes starting any type of business a lot easier. 

I always thought I needed tons of cash or perfect credit to get started.

Calling me a "newbie" would give me too much credit, but I do want to house hack when we move, and then look into rental properties if I manage to be a decent landlord.

Perform the same task in each app to ensure a fair comparison.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.Run a credit/screening report on yourself.Enter a maintenance request, assign a vendor, and attach a fake invoice.Enter charges to the tenant's ledger.Enter recurring charges and automatic late fees.Sign documents electronically.Run owner reports.After testing a few apps, one should clearly stand out.

We don't accept letters from three years ago or some quack on the phone with a credit card reader.

Are anybody still doing second liens or a line of credit on investment properties?