If it's a good deal and the finances make sense, a portfolio lender and/or commercial lender would be more than happy to fund the deal.  

Are you just spending way too much money on non-essentials and fanciful desires?

Buying and holding renovated properties certainly seems easier for a first-time investor, but the BRRRR strategy would allow us to re-invest our seed fund and make the most out of our initial investment.

My 5 year goal is to become a professional real estate fund manager.I happen to live in NYC where there is a large concentration of people with 7 figure incomes who often have a difficult time obtaining a more than nominal return on their at-risk/disposable capital.

ALL RE is cyclic and Calif is typically an 8-9 cycle, especially in the most desirable areas like SF Bay area, Orange County.  2008 was a major down turn due to the mortgage industry collapse, not true property values. 

I'm offering gap funding to supplement hard money and I want to connect with HMLs that are actively investing in San Antonio/Austin.

I don't know if construction field will help me much, but it seems like it'll give me the upper hand.As of now I have no idea what real estate really entitles and no funds, so besides reading what else could help me within this area?

Anything one can do to get a more targeted list when low on funds is a smart play if the time investment isn't too great per property.

Show proof of funds for the purchase price, rehab cost, and additional funds for overages.

and costing more than I anticipated (ie, cutting into those future investment funds).