Since the project is self-funded, both by choice and necessity, the ideal time frame for the whole process (locating the property, inspecting and buying it, renovating it and selling it) would be 6 months, give or take a month.

They also offer the time-frame I'm looking for.

The hard part is that finding private money when you are new in real estate is like unicorn hunting and if you don't already have that relationship it will likely be hard to make happen in the timeframe you need.

It took me about seven years to be able to quit my job as an engineer.This was mainly from buying inexpensive properties from motivated sellers for cash.Buying nice STR's with leverage is a much longer game especially this environment. 

I like to buy inexpensive antique furniture.

Some investors don't like it and want to be able to get their returns in a much shorter timeframe hence flip and fix is more attractive to them.

Personally I think the margins are too thin on arbitrage to make sense, but its an inexpensive way to get experience fast!

I saw 1099s between 28k-31k and 12k in expenses i.e. taxes and HOA.

Define your retirement, time frame, then ask for an REI strategy to get you there.  

We did go through the turnover process once and that process was seamless as well and the PM was able to find a quality tenant in a reasonable time frame.