Many people use hard money loans to do the initial purchase and rehab, but I believe those lenders typically want to lend to investors with experience because part of the criteria is evaluating the deal itself and the investors ability to execute.

We had no credit history in the US so most typical lenders wouldn't work.

If you have a private card with them apply for a business card first typically they give you 10K as a new business client you can 3X every few months your credit limit on that card and after a few cycles go for the blueprint credit line.

No acknowledgement of even receiving the text. 

Note that many fields are required on the forms and typically only the seller is going to know the right info.You will also be required by state law to sign a listing agreement with the listing agent.

(Currently own a 4 unit rental and 8 acres planned for development in the near future).I have just received my closing disclosure and boy is it ugly.

I would say the cost of entry for a STR would normally be much higher than a typical LTR. 

We were trying to get a conventional loan through Guild Mortgage, but yesterday I received the email that we didn't qualify due to the PMI they quoted us being an extra $2000 per month.

Hey Alison - You don't typically need proof of income for a fix and flip loan, they are more asset-based.

typically if you are out of state investor, I recommend you have a local PM to rehab and manage the rental.