The process was very simple.  

Still, I am early on in the education process so I am looking for any connections and advice I can find.

Your post may resonate with someone who is in the process of listing a traditional rental but who had never previously considered arbitrage.Please keep us posted on this thread on how you ultimately find your successful leads.

I am currently  in the process of purchasing my next primary home in GA using a VA loan and my own savings as a down payment. 

Prior to speaking with an attorney you need to learn how the syndication model works.Underwriting, LP/GP structure, fees, etc.A great book is Best Ever Apartment Syndication - textbook for this business.Happy to provide more insight on the process, if you want to send me a DM.

Do one task at a time in each app so you can compare apples to apples.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.

I appreciate the context but still can't say I agree with your process, particularly unwillingness to buy on the MLS.

We just about finished our first spec house, and loved the entire process much more than rehabbing.

As I dug into the project, I realized that I was both well suited for flipping (or keeping), but also that I was genuinely enjoying the process.   

To take it a step further, you can do (or hire a VA) a process called skip tracing, to gather their phone numbers and emails.If you are driving for dollars, I like @Frank Procopio 's advice.