There is some time involved also in waiting for the background check and it is largely a process you have to weed through on your own as there isn't much written on it.I would recommend talking to someone like @Daniel Anshus to see if you can work some sort of deal for handling both transactions. 

We also feel that an automatic gate of some sorts will not make financial sense for the size of the property.

@Kenneth Moerschelas @Michael Plaks mentioned, you do need some sort of business to establish a Self-Directed 401k(Solo-401k). 

Contact the owner and see if they'd be willing to sell to you, they may or may not be motivated to sell off market.

I would probably try and get seller financing on my first one if I can find a motivated seller.

If it doesn’t work as a STR then it likely won’t work as an LTR either given some sort of market collapse. 

So this is sort of a norm where investors will ASSUME they need to provide info without asking?

I've purchased a number of properties with tenants in them and some of them didn't even have a contract or lease agreement of any sort.

I do have a website sort of explaining my journey, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post that here.

Sure thingwhat sort of contractacts?