The person then gets called and qualed and so it begins.I am reasonably tech savvy but not as much in this realm (not yet I guess) and nobody end to end owns the process.  

Due to the timeline of that process, it is not something you can do (or have the seller do under contract). 

We build trust and improve our chances of finishing the deal by assuring sellers of a smooth closing process and showing our commitment with large deposits.

Any processes to share and/or tips/recommendations?  

I am helping a client who is also a Veteran to do this exact thing right now; at first he wasn't sure he wanted to move twice to make it happen, but when he realized he was going to basically get a cash flowing rental property for free(no money down) he realized it was an easy decision.

Im glad they didnt move in.

It worked well because it was a rental they were renting for someone else, when the land lor decided to sell I didn't want them to move so I bought it.

Personally, I started in a market close to me as I wanted to do rentals so until I got my process down, I didn't want to venture too far from home.

I'll be moving up to the twin cities in the next roughly year or two.

Keep it moving.