Gorham Savings Bank and Bangor Savings Bank offer loans in that range, as well as NBT Bank which is relatively new to this area but well established in surrounding markets.

Look up the owner's contact info online and send out your letters.  

As long as you have enough savings to be protected in case you just break even or lose a manageable amount of capital, you're good. 

The biggest reason people don't use an agent is because they want to save money.  

Had some cash saved up from working a full-time job in logistics and a part-time job teaching tennis, and bought a fixer-upper for $29,000 with a tenant in place at $700 (sounds like the $30,000 pig, right?)

Saving grace is that the 1 bedroom market is solid and has appreciated significantly in the last 12 months, and my tenants signed a 15 month lease so it will turn over in late spring instead.   

You will save yourself a lot of time, headaches and most of all money if you buy properties that have already been rehabbed or only need light cosmetic work to be rented out.

I will easily save 2k+ a month.

I've had new VA clients this year miss out on properties in multiple offer situations by asking the seller to pay their closing costs (against my firm advice to the contrary) because of something they read online or someone told them about VA loans.

I encourage you to do the process as it is easy and will save you a good chunk of change.