I'm not financially 100% there (as in don't have the cash for a downpayment yet) to go about traditionally buying my first property But, I've found a deal that peaked my interest and the possibility is there, but the numbers don't work.

Unless laws have changed that I'm simply not up to speed on yet, a full time college student up to the age of 24 is still a dependent, an 18 year old student who lives with the parent at least six months of the year- these both fit the situation you're describing. 

I’d prefer to be pre approved with lender to speed up loan processing but not a requirement you borrow with same bank that have you pre approval.

Our 3 bedroom pool cabins (newly constructed) have the best insulation possible (spray foam), a variable speed pool pump, and 18kW pool heater and they average around $550/month for the electric.

This is something I'd like to get up to speed on myself.

The "peak' of the market is not a thing...it won't ever peak until we have miracle and people suddenly decide to not live in houses any more...

If you want to aggressively speed up the process, you need to get great deals and/or rehab properties to increase their value.  

We started remodeling (we went unit by unit, looking back I would have done everything at once to speed it up)3.

I was reading and I saw someone say that brokers contact me but I need to speed up the process. 

Especially because speed is the name of the game (in most cases).. at the same time it's worth it to interview lenders and go with recommendations.