Is alternative financing something I should be looking to make my first deal happen or be patient and wait until my file suits A/B lendes criteria? 

Alternatively, you could contact a Mortgage Broker.

It is then up to the person who brought the deal to work through the “no”; to fight past objections; to analyze the deal for flaws; and to make sure that the investment of reputation, time, team, and money on the deal is a better investment versus the next best alternative.

Maybe you can attract some long term employed people (Hospital, Post Office, Grocery Store, Target, Dollar General, etc...)(???)

Those are usually red flags that mean it will be extremely difficult to attract new tenants, sell any homes, and raise rent.

Fortunately we saw the value in creating luxury units and attracting high paying desirable tenants.  

While attractively priced, It's 24 pgs of proprietary legal doublespeak that basically guarantees I pay him $35k in commissions whether we close our not, warrants and forever and holds harmless his buyer if hazardous materials are ever discovered on the property and blah blah.

Am I better off just maxing out my conventional slots before I go the alternate route?

I did this to attract a better tenant and the numbers worked to do so from when I bought a couple years ago.

On the alternative, have you thought about "driving for dollars" and looking for property local to you?