Is it possible to find a loan/other method of financing before building my low credit score up?

[Billy Tegethoff]

Hi, 

I'm reading Brandon's book on low and no money down investing, so I may answer my own question just by reading on. I'm perhaps over-anxious to get started, and I'm looking for my first property. That said, my credit score it totally in the toilet. I had one credit card when I was 18 and made one late payment and then cancelled it. I'm 29 now. I know, I know...the result has been that there's really nothing to pull information from on my credit report, so my score is 552. In any case, I'm trying to find out if the best course of action is to focus on repairing my credit score so I can more easily qualify for a loan, or if there are smarter routes to take so I can get moving in REI. I'm a student until the end of 2015, and I'm not going to be able to work full-time during my last semester, but I will still have enough spare time to keep working (I do freelance web/graphic design, and photography) and attempt to start my REI career. What have you all done? My guess is I'm not the only one with this problem, and my other guess is that more that a few BP folk have found ways out of this dilemma. Thanks for your help!