I have been given relocation benefits, but my new job and relocation company are notoriously slow so there is no telling when I will start working with the relocation specialist.

Any lender, including a hard money lender, is going to want you to have some skin in the game (ie your own money).  

We're also growing like crazy, so tons of cashflow opportunity.I'm a real estate investment specialist in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa markets and I work with a lot of investors like yourself to help connect them to investment properties.

Most are only interested in long term so you have to look for STR specialists. 

You could try talking to a credit repair specialist to see if there is any way to raise it but at this point you may have to wait until those hard pulls drop and your lines of credit are more seasoned

@Joe ZingerAsk your local hvac specialists.

@Nicholas Cantwell Right now you should be looking for a suitable project to invest in take a portion of the 70k and use it as your skin in the game with the hard money person you select there are a lot so call around and find the one with the least amount to put up and lowest rate.

I want a specialist that's an expert, and not a jack of all trades and master of none.

Your agent, while probably knowledgeable,  isn't a contract specialist.  

My philosophy is at least with the deposit they have some skin in the game and more motivation to leave the apartment in decent condition or not break the lease early.