It can be sped up by getting off-market (off MLS) deals, often these will need renovation, and adding value before renting them out and refinancing.  

All though I Allways pay my credit card on time and often in advance this higher Ballance was spotted by the credit company at the wrong time.This mistake is going to cost me higher interest cost of over .5 base points.

It can be difficult to get a cash-flowing property (or break-even) with 100% financing UNLESS you're doing some rehab on it.VA loans are great tools, but it can often make sense to buy a property you will live in and rent out a room or two to some roommates. 

That has not worked and I've lost out on a few homes I was very interested in because the agent either didn't get back to me in time, or didn't know the area well to offer solid advice, or didn't want to put in much of an effort other than to send my some automated search result (which I often had already). 

Often their license is under restricted status when get caught being a liar or un-professional.  

If you really look at all the new stuff you would have to learn and all the effort that would have to go into a flip especially as a first deal that will seriously detract from your buy and hold investing.Also consider this, generally if I look at a possible buy and hold I often think I wouldn’t need as good as a deal as for a flip or wholesale.

They can often be your best source for "good tenants."

The advantage of starting out self managing is you will learn the complex and often difficult task of actually managing a PM when the time comes.

and they'll often point me to one or two of their wholesalers.

When starting out, less is often more.