Real partners verse banks as partners What is your choice?

Now that we have once again experienced an economic hardship ( 2 in just a matter of 12 short years). Do you think it's better to partner with a bank, via a mortgage, or partner with a couple of investors like yourself, pay cash and have no mortgage). I have always partnered with a couple of like minded investors to spread the risk and spread the reward. For me it's less stressful to worry about collecting the rent than to worry about paying the mortgage. Of course all is dependent on making a good investment in the beginning and having the cash to move forward.