We switched from conventional loans to DSCR mortgages, where the lender looks at the property and its production of rental income. 

They tend to be able to offer "portfolio" products where they actually service the loan themselves, and they can usually be more creative if need be.   

Keith MillerMissoula, MontanaHi Keith, OK--Vision a great topic.You might want to look into how to do a Vision Board.Some sites recommend cutting out magazine pics and pasting them to cardboard (welcome to 1950).A better way to do it is to use Excel and just grab pics from google and insert text boxes below them.Good Luck!

I highly recommend the excellent biggerpockets book by @Brian Burke: The Hands-Off Investor.   

I have also looked into borrowing for a down payment whether its from a personal loan, hard money lender, family, credit card cash advances, etc.Are there any recommended tips, products, BP webinars/podcasts that address this kind of situation?

Did not do the program as I'm not an agent but I can vouch for Jenifer's character and I know she stands behind her product!

Excellent point to consider!

He opened the coolest-looking excel model for a prospective property they were looking to buy out-of-state.

David Greene covered the topic on one of the latest podcasts as well confirming that 6 months is a traditional answer for a lot of lenders, but isn't a hard and fast rule, therefore I need to continue to search.Your 75% comment is interesting because many of the HML websites I have been on are all marketing their products around a % of purchase price plus rehab, not starting at 75% of ARV which might (ideally will) cover the entire purchase price. 

@Chris Mandle If you can't get any assistance I can refer a contractor that is an investor and works at a fair price and a waterproofing company that does excellent work and gives clients a discount as they have a partnership with my current brokerage