You just have to season the funds which means get it into a savings account 3 months prior to the purchase application.

If this coach is in your market and knows the key players in the market, has used various property managers and can tell you the good ones, knows the loan brokers, knows the risks of investing on this side of town versus that, knows the tenant base for your area and what they are wanting from their apartments and what they can afford, than I would say a coach (maybe not the one you are interviewing) is worth it.  

Since you are a seasoned stock investor, then I'm sure you will agree with the following phrase: "Timing the market does not work, but, Time In the market makes all the difference in the world!

If you are looking to refinance with a rate and term or non-qm option you may be looking at around 6 month season.

I'd like to list ASAP so as not to miss peak summer season. 

The high season is May/June/July/Oct.  

I'd find a lender that can do deals with brand new companies and do not require seasoning, if you choose to go that route. 

This is one regional player, one statewide, and one national.The price of answers to "but what about if..." is a phone call.

I really appreciate your response and when I read my 1st response back I think I was a little abrasive (sorry) 1 thing about covered CA is age, those us that are a little more (ummm) seasoned pay more lol.Its funny because I've got friends that weren't trying to be investors and got lucky on the buy, rode high appreciation & bounced with $ to another state.

Probably need a track record, probably need 30-50% down equity to be a player.