@Shawn York The process for the past several months has been much faster than ever since I have  been involved.

Do any older investors have any advice as to ways I can get involved in the RE community while saving up?

There are a lot of costs involved though. 

I am not an attorney but I think deals involving real estate must be written.I also don't understand when you say you offered him $135,000 with a $1,000 option fee and then paying him $1,000 a month.Do you mean you are currently renting from him for $1,000 a month but have an option to purchase it for $135,000?

I have some old friends involved in small rehab projects in the city.

Get them on board sooner than later and get them involved as the boots on the ground.

Judicial foreclosures are more complicated and have more steps involved than the non-judicial FCs but, if you know what you're doing, you can streamline the process far better than any large institutional lender can.

Raise money for a Syndication – This is a great beginner’s way for someone that has a network and wants to get involved in the deal.

If it's a roof leak, that's a tough one and there's not likely a quick solution other than getting the city involved or buying the house. 

Do you have partners involved in your investments?