The company will automatically deduct the money from my account within 10 days or offer payment plans.

That’s because the sticker price will no longer come with steep commissions that are typically automatically accounted for...IMHO, this makes no sense.

I also don't have a knowledge base to truly understand the intricacies of what makes this market work and shift.  

They automatically take a 10% charge from the guest for this but it doesn’t go to me.

If you want to build an expansive network of investors who want to work with you you should be ethical and licensed as it automatically gives you more credibility.

These days, I don't want my projects to drag on (the economy can shift any day now), so I go for better and faster -- I'm willing to pay more. 

That way the interest rate will adjust in a year automatically. 

My goal has shifted and I'm looking for a prime location that will build equity and allow me to charge top dollar for my renovated units.

The first and most important answer to this is you're shifting any liability by not being directly involved.The second thing is do the math on what your time could produce net versus if you paid someone to do that & you work more.

I am guessing not it if you need the cash to do another deal.Somebody else, investor or not (albeit, any owner of a 2family is automatically an investor), can get a FHA 203k or conventional reno loan at 3.5% or 5% down at ~7%.