It's similar to the whole "Short Term Rental" structure in that not only do we have to acquire the property but then we have to spend extra money to get it up to speed.  

In my experience, they have the fastest turnaround time vs folks out of driving distance from the property.

The checks go to the owners directly, and he has a maintenance person and attorney on speed dial.

I financed this deal through a private lender, which provided the flexibility and speed needed to close quickly.

My recommendation for the fastest and best way to get into real estate investing with no money is to get a job in real estate.

Quality over speed saves time and money in the long run.

I financed this deal initially with a hard money loan, which provided the speed and flexibility needed to close the purchase quickly.

I financed this deal through a private lender, which provided the flexibility and speed needed to acquire the property and begin renovations.

any proactive steps i can take to help speed up the process?

The fastest way back is getting a full time job or acquire rental properties/units/apt's since rental income can be used instantly (75% of gross - PITIA monthly payment = net rental Income asap/instantly).All other forms of full doc income receipt of the income to utilize it on a loan application like alimony (needs 3-6 months of receipt + 36 months of continuation).