I am happy to say that I am debt free (accept rental properties), so like @Steve Vaughan I am advocating something that has worked for me.

Typically they want to see something like accepting a new job that is further away.

I don't mean to go against the grain of those who are selling that idea - all I can say is that it did not work for me.So.......... back to taking seminars, buying cassette tapes and books - I wanted to learn everything I could about investing in real estate ---- so--I had to get money, working capital, and I needed to go on the cheap - A friend told me about cheap properties you could buy in Baltimore - houses for only $2-3,000 and many of them could be found at public auctions.After borrowing some money and getting some credit cards and a new job - one in sales - I was ready - ready to invest in cheap- junk properties in the City.And wouldn't you know it - I got lucky at my first auction and purchased a cheap house that was boarded up - Because of all those expensive seminars I enrolled in I WAS READY - prepared with my pry-bar, flash light, level, marble and probe - I decided to go to this building that was being auctioned the next day - I sort of removed some plywood and crawled through a window to take a look -Boy was I surprised - this place looked great - I later found out that the estate boarded it to keep squatters out.The next day - I was ready with my deposit and waiting for the auctioneer to start his melodious hypnotic chant - 5 bidders appeared but did not bid because they could not get it - I was the only bidder and got the house real cheap.Today as an auctioneer, investor and developer of commercial properties - if someone would ask my opinion on how to get started I would suggest ---Continue to study but learn how to cut through the BSGet a credit line Learn 20 creative financing techniques - no money down systems (that is none of your own money)Hang with a few successful investors and pick - pick - pick their brain*** Look at 50 houses in the area you intend to invest (not expensive, blue collar, mixed rental and home owner neighborhoods)When you are finished looking at 50 properties - you will be armed with knowledge that most agents and other investors don't have - knowledge of values -Keep a journal, put listings in it, write down everything the agent or owner says, keep a record of the cost per square foot - this will help determine values -Have agents send you expired listings - go knock on the door or send a letter to ask if they are still accepting offers on the property - Remember an expired listed is a property that failed to sell - the seller should still be motivated to sell. 

If you want the bank to accept less than the balance owed, they will require you to go thru the short sale process.

That being said I think in most cases with turnkey purchases, you're going to pay a premium which makes it more acceptable to buy something with less room in the deal.

In our FL As Is contract, which you can find online (FARBAR AS IS) the inspection period is an absolute get out of jail free card, Paragraph 12.....something to the effect of "If buyer determines, at sole discretion of the buyer, that the property is not acceptable, Buyer may terminate this contract.....and the EM will be returned".  

(someone please, correct me because this is the way I understand it)Partnering with someone with money.Use your bank for a line of credit, which you will need to have a good credit score and a good salary to get qualified.Use hard money lenders (accepting their conditions but you need money to fill a gap since they do not finance you 100% of the project).Use crowdfunding money.Have cash of your own to finance a whole project.It doesn't matter what method of financing you use, knowing all the facts on a specific property will be required and the list is long beginning from the year built.

You'll be showing up at closing and at that point you can accept or deny the loan.

There is a 3.5% down option, but it's tough to get offers accepted using that in the Bay Area for multi-unit properties. 

They might consider taking out a HELOC loan to make repairs (hurting the equity they want), or floating the price with the realtor only to see it sit on the market for months and getting investor offers which the realtor doesn't want to accept.