Alternatively, can I get pre-approved online or with my bank and go from there before shopping between lenders? 

BiggerPockets is full of resources designed to help you along your journey, whether you are just getting started or a seasoned investor.

Nickerson, seeing Allen’s success, was itching to get back into the seminar business, but he was not a marketing type person.  

I'm looking to get to my first couple of sales and I heard here is the best place to look for advice.

If you can get conventional financing that is 100% the way to go almost everytime.

They are getting what they really want, and you are crafting the deal to where it will still make sense for you.One potential issue is if what is most important to them is also important to you.

Brand new tenants getting divorced and can’t afford rent on their own.

@Kent KettellWe have been using loan to cost funding our deals the past three years, with community and credit unions, and the refinancing once stable to agency.we are able to get 80% of the rehab built into the loan, and it has allowed us to come up with less.

They over sold their capabilities and had issue after issue getting us on boarded. 

I advise clients to do the same when they are starting out so they don't get this feeling of FOMO for deals they aren't doing