Or should I keep trying to do the traditional lending route?

For the last 2-3 years I was heavily involved in building my wealth by day trading and traditional equity investing.

After a the last extension on a deal of mine that was to close in less than a month; I decided to no longer offer 3 week closings and shoot for the traditional 30 to 45 closing first off.  

I am a bit older ( I am turning 45 this year)  than a traditional "newbie" investor. 

Despite having been told that all the vacancies are in "rent ready" condition, upon inspection I found that the amount of capital that will be required to actually get them rent ready will average around $1500/unit (x46 vacant units = ~$69k in required capital expense for initial lease-up).Because the low rate of seasoned occupancy will limit our financing options (particularly with banks and traditional lenders) we're considering the lease-option path; gain control of the property, lease it up, add value, get a loan, and exercise our option. 

Have you looked into traditional financing? 

It seems more like I am buying an expensive lottery ticket and the cutoff time is not a real cutoff time at all.

Your day-to-day personal expenses are covered; you're free from credit card debt and other personal / consumer debts; you're saving in traditional retirement accounts, like a workplace 401k, up to your full employer match; you have a comfortable emergency fund.I'm assuming the real estate market, at this time, is "normal" (like 2014 or 2015).

They have traditional lending standards, but are investor friendly-ish.

(Could order online from them as well)  Here's one I'm installing in a unit now (chose stainless, though if you go with Chrome no one WILL even come close to touching that price Moen Traditional )Best of luck.