@Jason V., as you stated, most lenders will require a net worth equal to or exceeding the loan balance, in addition - 10% liquidity post close and multifamily experience.Assuming you have the experience, lenders are fine with you bringing in a loan sponsor who has the necessary financial means to complement you as the operator of the deal.

How do you find VAs with an understanding of Real Estate Investing and is upworks the best place to find them? 

This builds seller referrals and builds my buyer's list, enabling me to close more deals.I'm opening myself up to virtual deals as well.20% of net profit on every successful closing goes back into the business: polishing my branding (online and off), paying for systems set up, hiring and training VAs/team members, dropping larger mailings, education, etc.Every morning I write my goal (4 deals a month at $10,000+ net profit each - $480,000+/yr) then I write a simple numbered action plan for that day.

Systems, Automation & Scaling: Also, I have watched / heard the LO gurus talking about 'automating' and 'outsourcing' practically everything... from buying leads and using foreign and domestic VAs that generate and / or 'pre-qualify' people, to even doing their follow- ups and booking appointments for the deal maker... to 'systematizing' practically everything else, under the sun.

You need to show you had good intensions in buying as an owner occupied and were not being fraudulent.Your next loan to buy will consider your loan liabilities for qualification, off hand I believe you can only have one FHA loan or if you can it's limited by the loan amount like VAs, the amounts and rules change there.

Also, you mention you prefer to use professional data researchers who pull data to your specifications; is this a company that brings leads to you or like VAs that doing the research for you?

Those VAs if overseas may work for far far less than someone here.

Yes, we use VAs.

Google “virtual bookkeeper” or “offshore bookkeeper” - you should be able to find someone for $4-$10/hr who knows this stuff better than everyone on this thread & would be extremely grateful to acquire extra work from “rich americans” so they can afford to feed their kids.I use offshore VAs extensively for things like this & much more to operate my STRs to free me up for things such as leisure activities & growing my wealth by buying new properties.P.s.

Hire 2 full time VAs to make your cold calls.