Combine this data with the increase of withdrawn sales and it may be more than a typical slow winter season and more akin with what market analysts have dubbed a seller’s strike.

Winter is the best time to get a deal in Chicago...I even call it Deal Season!!! 

When I cashed out refinanced on my rental, I looked for collateral based lender that had the least amount of fees to originate, no seasoning period, and highest LTV.

I want to know what other newbies are doing and seasoned real estate pros have done to enjoy the process along the way when they were getting started?

The average days on market will vary depending on the where it is; the season that you are in (late November to February are tough - holidays, weather changes, etc.); the pricing strategy behind the rentals; what price point are the rentals looking to achieve (if it is at or above market rent it may take longer to find a tenant.

Yes, seasoning period is 6 months.

Only thing you might run into is seasoning. 

Before you start a project, know what your long term lender requires as far as seasoning debt to income ratio, LTV %, etc.    

.-  having your  own agent is smart to do  ...a good agent will provide assistance from  start to  finish  and  will be  avaiable to  help solve  any issues  .....having your own agent will  also allow you  to know the advice  from them is solid and not  stilted by  the  agent  representing the seller at the same time  ....its  not worth  saving  2-3%  of the  commission for the  problems that  might arise  ( espeically  if you are  not a seasoned  buyer / investor)

This can seem crazy, and you may have to put in 50 - 100 offers, but a seasoned investor friendly agent will know how to do this without taking up all their time.