Hello All!I’m looking to get started in long-distance real estate investing and have been doing lots of research on several markets to try and select the ideal market based on my strategy. A problem that I’m having is...

This is where I believe it is critical to get the info from someone that knows the post Dodd Frank way of doing it, and not in pieces from the internet.

Does anyone have any funding sources that would be willing to work with a newer investor and use the property for collateral to secure their investment for the the rehab funding?

Having an accurate ARV is critical to the offer process. 

There is no specific science to it, and I would use more than a single source for rent estimates.  

Sorry, I can't recommend a particular source.

If anyone has any tips, alternative methods, or source material to throw my way it be greatly appreciated.

Yiu need a Poa, power of attorney to manage the bank, insurance, critical steps and necessary docs at closing and steps post closing.

Houston Real Estate Highlights in NovemberSingle-family home sales rebounded from a slight decline in October, rising 3.9 percent with 8,320 units sold versus 8,010 in October 2020;Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes dropped from 46 to 35;Total property sales rose 5.6 percent with 10,216 units sold;Total dollar volume increased 20.6 percent to $3.7 billion;The single-family average price rose 12.6 percent to $383,807; The single-family median price increased 16.3 percent to $314,000 – an all-time high first reached in June of 2021; Single-family home months of inventory registered a 1.6-months supply, down from 2.1 months year-over-year and below the national inventory of 2.4 months;On a year-to-date basis, single-family homes sales are 12.0 percent ahead of 2020’s record pace and 22.2 percent ahead of 2019.Townhome/condominium sales rose 16.8 percent with the average price up 16.0 percent to $258,970 and the median price up 10.5 percent to $210,000;Single-family home rentals rose 7.1 percent with the average rent up 8.5 percent to $2,042; Townhome/condominium leases increased 5.1 percent with the average rent up 3.8 percent to $1,737.Source HAR 

As @Collin Maas said, the whole warranty thing is a scam because they only cover materials, not the cost to demo and replace (which is where the money is)And as @Scott Mac said, it is critical to compare apples to apples.