As a 1099 earner, most traditional banks will want 2 years of tax returns showing your income from your real estate business before they will underwrite a loan with you.Hard money lenders are an option, are expensive, and yes, in this market, hard to make the numbers work for a buy and hold rental.Fix and flips would be a big risk, depending on your experience, but are a way to start making money sooner. 

@Daniel HaberkostUnable to train anymore and unable to surf traditionally now, unfortunately..House hacking is something I’ve considered but being tied to Denver for over a year with the FHA occupancy requirements is not something that appeals to me knowing I’d like to move back to San Diego.

Our properties are traditional Japanese themed and therefore have a samurai armor, traditional Japanese wedding kimono, tea room, and antics here and there. 

Let's say you get a private unsecured loan from your rich aunt.

They are much less strict than the traditional banks and base the loan primarily off of the collateral asset (your house).

My favorite (as well as a common crowd favorite) is currently Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.Those who read this would agree: this book was mind-blowing and was a huge game changer.

This is not applicable to traditional, long-term rentals. 

I purchased home with a traditional 30 yr mortgage (4.75%).

@Nicholas Mann pretty much @Abel Curiel has it covered here... your other option here is to throw two realities at them... one in which they get a comfy number, but on terms you like, so maybe $580k, but they do a seller carryback for a monthly rate of significantly less than your current financing options are giving you so that you cashflow heavy immediately, or $480k on traditional finance.

We want to refinance in July to a traditional mortgage.