Now, I found this really enticing deal in Mount Vernon, NY that seems to be a really fun first time project and getting my hands dirty...real dirty.

It is sad to see people get enticed and think it’s real and try to emulate it.

Any tips as to how I can move quicker, and maybe entice a seller to pick my offer over a cash buyer?

You should be able to get some good selling points that you can use to entice the owner to seller finance to you.  

We're excited to live in the remodel so moving out right after we finish isn't very enticing.

The Bishop Arts area is particularly enticing. 

Better bet would be to bring someone in as an equity partner possibly to give them a piece of the deal if there is equity in the deal, it would be more enticing than being in a 2nd position on a property the flipper will not lose sleep at night walking away from.

It's enough to be worth spending the time letting people in to do their thing and locking up afterwards, but also hopefully low enough to entice people out here on price.

But that 120 day redemption period is enticing. 

Lots of people get enticed to switch based on a quoted rate the lender can not actually produce.