From experience with human beings, we always scout at least three other alternatives who can jump in and take over at any given time.

I just read $4.50 foot to install copalum in swiches and outlets...but there are little purple boxes that are alternative type of pigtailing. 1970‘s track house is a good first rehab...its a modern house.

Perhaps as an alternative you partner with your flipper friend where you contribute the cash and get a split of the profits in return. 

@ Garrett Foster   There are few alternative commercial lenders that will allow you to use a seller carry back.   

I have been educating myself on wholesaling recently as alternate route to create revenue to further my goals.

So I had to find alternative lenders. 

With regard to purchasing rental properties in a different state site-unseen, there are alternative methods in doing so. 

Your expectations are mostly correct... you're being quoted a portfolio HML-alternative rate that'll go to 80% LTV.

the additional 400-500bps in an alternative investment is nice, but not the primary consideration. 

Since this would be a specialized situation, I would use the Contact on the VA website to get the best answer, there are a lot of lenders that do VA loans but they don't specialize in them so they may not know about any fine print, or alternate paperwork not commonly used.