Second option puts me in more debt for a bit but a quicker start on acquiring properties. 

@Waylon GatesThere are many reasons the Solo 401k is the preferred structure.Contributions limits are roughly 10x higher, there is no custodial requirement for the 401k, you can take participant loans, you don't need the additional expense and administration of an LLC to have checkbook control, there is a built in-Roth component, a spouse can participate, there are additional tax benefits, there is generally greater privacy, and the plans are often quicker to setup and cost less money over time especially compared to most IRA LLCs.

Mine was a flip turn key property so with these new lower sales and the quicker relocation than I was expecting I would lose 15k just on sale price plus have to take a huge credit hit and lose my VA benefits.

It appears that your project need to be turned over to a Title Attorney for resolution on a pending purchase through an Auction or otherwise.Here in Louisiana the Market is a lot softer for an investor.  

Ask a title company to do a preliminary title search, that's a quicker version of a search, they can tell you about all current liens or other clouds on title.

I have returned calls within a couple hours and found out I had already lost the deal to someone who moved quicker.

However, is there an easier and quicker way to do it, or is this as best as it's going to get?

The question here aims at focusing our discussion on the macro location and market analysis, in a resolution of neighborhood / zip code. 

It’s always better to hire a professional, who will do a much quicker and better quality job than you will able to do, unless you yourself are a professional contractor.

Normally on bigger buildings we do LOI for all that, but you can just drop a study period into the contract.Things are at scale, units turnover much quicker than SFH.