Quote from @Argel Algura: Hey Bigger Pockets Community,A year ago I wrote about rebuilding and starting over in life and considering real estate investing as a path (see post here: "Bad credit, minimal cash and starting over in life . . .

You’ll need to treat it like a business—handling tenant management, accounting, legal compliance, property maintenance, and more.That said, when done correctly, it’s a powerful tool for building wealth!

Once you have a shortlist, sign up for an account with each one and test them extensively to see how they function.

you do have the ability to close your account at any time. 

To answer your questions here though:Alternative options - I was going to sell all my stocks and etfs, take out a HELOC, and some credit cards to try to shoestring together enough to the deal without a hard money loan. 

I would look for a low interest line of credit to put on the property and lend at a higher interest rate.

You fill out an application, provide proof of income, credit report, list assets, list liabilities, and so on.  

You must find a team with a long track record of experience that you can hold accountable.

I’d never had more than $2,000 in my bank account up until this point.

However, the depreciation claimed while the property was a rental must be accounted for upon the future sale of the personal residence, which could increase your capital gains tax liability.The adjusted basis of the property (original cost minus depreciation) will be used to calculate gains or losses at the time of sale.