If you want some professional level guidance, access to off market deals that meet your criteria, an amazing tour of the ins and outs of the neighborhoods or just an agent to set you up on the MLS with a good search, this group provides everything for serious investors  (full disclosure - I am affiliated)https://rerecon.com/

Its accessibility will probably matter.

How accessible is the sponsor?

I pay more because I have 2 assistants that also have access.

It may take longer, but I can get my feet wet by learning the buying, negotiating, marketing, and managing aspect of the business in a much smaller scale.Option 2, on the other hand, will allow me to have access to more capital and potential ROI sooner, assuming I even find a partner (and who knows how long that would take or how realistic that actually is?).

You have access to an INCREDIBLE loan product called the VA loan.

I decided recently to become a licensed affiliate broker in the state of Tennessee to have faster access to listings, comps, get in doors, etc..

Are these possible right now for private investors or just the companies that have access to the public markets?

Some lenders can do drive by appraisals if there's no interior access and some can work with the property even if there's someone living inside.

The irony of credit scores is those with good ones get access to more credit than they need and those with bad ones get access to much less if any.