I've heard from clients of both that when it comes to skip tracing, the data is not as fresh.

Do not skip any steps, and this solves your STR income issue.Also, in order to use rental income to qualify for a VA loan, you need to document prior landlord experience. 

Maybe that led to an out of sight out of mind situation for the C Suite. 3, Maybe related to #1, but as Drucker says "culture eats strategy for breakfast" and the culture of SVB doesn't seem super conserative or long term oriented. 

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive skip trace service?

If you skip that due diligence you may be paying for a salesman, or you may be paying for a real knowlegable person.

I have been spending a lot of money on marketing, paying for CRM, lists and skip tracing, etc.

I would love if someone knows that to be incorrect, but until then, we use DirecTV or local cable for live TV in our STRs.I'd skip the sound bar ESPECIALLY if it adds another remote to the mix. 

drive for dollars meaning drive around your neighborhood and for properties with high grass, boarded up widows, or vacant homes and skip-trace to get owner phone number.Watch wholesaling Inc on YouTube to get more info on it  

Bushes are done May to early July and again October to early December, skipping the major hot and cold.

They often overlooked the years of experience, knowledge, intuition and relationship they developed while they were crawling through the trenches and they think simply by telling other people what they know, and others can skip the steps.