I'll iron out a process to get started and start making some calls.Does that all sound like a decent starting point?

Still, I am early on in the education process so I am looking for any connections and advice I can find.

Your post may resonate with someone who is in the process of listing a traditional rental but who had never previously considered arbitrage.Please keep us posted on this thread on how you ultimately find your successful leads.

I am currently  in the process of purchasing my next primary home in GA using a VA loan and my own savings as a down payment. 

Do one task at a time in each app so you can compare apples to apples.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.

I appreciate the context but still can't say I agree with your process, particularly unwillingness to buy on the MLS.

We just about finished our first spec house, and loved the entire process much more than rehabbing.

As I dug into the project, I realized that I was both well suited for flipping (or keeping), but also that I was genuinely enjoying the process.   

You will need to determine if this falls under SEC regulations depending on the amount of capital, nature, and structure of your investment.

To take it a step further, you can do (or hire a VA) a process called skip tracing, to gather their phone numbers and emails.If you are driving for dollars, I like @Frank Procopio 's advice.