Rich,
Answers to your questions:
1. What is your deposit secured by? You will be secured by several things. First, you are secured by the investment property being purchased, added as a full partner if funds aren't returned. Second, you will be secured by a personal guarantee from the borrowers. Also, the borrowers will cross collateralize with other income producing property.
2. What is the method of repayment? The funds will be transferred to the title company/attorney and wired back to you after the closing. The sellers are taking back a second mortgage for the 25%, the bank wants to see the cash go to closing.
All of this will be written to your satisfaction and hopefully can be repeated with the next deal.
To answer Mr. Investor's question as to why not use a transactional lender. I don't know any transactional lenders but have spoken to Rich Weese several times and hope to do business with him. I'd rather make him money and build a relationship.
Thanks,
Stacy