As a broker, my biggest pet peeves are hard money lenders circumventing to my clients, not being upfront about fees, asking for a commitment fee prior to issuing loan docs, and "matching" my broker fees, even though I underwrote the file, got the client, and did all of the processing work. 

Quote from @Rogelio Molina: I just won the bid at a foreclosure auction and submitted my $5,000 deposit and signed the foreclosure sale agreement and we are closing in 30 days.

REI accounting requires someone who understands property management workflows, including AppFolio integrations, capex vs repairs, security deposits, owner distributions, and unit-level tracking.

Every upgrade was selected to match New Orleans buyer expectations and highlight the property’s best features, greatly increasing its market desirability.What was the outcome?

Even if you’re not in the U.S. yet, this market can work really well with the right team on the ground.A few quick guidelines:South Side:• Generally more stable for new investors• Strong rental demand• Solid cash-flow neighborhoods like Layton Blvd, Burnham Park, Lincoln VillageNorth Side:• Higher cash flow potential but also higher management needs• Only recommended if you have a strong local property manager and contractor• Look for pockets near Sherman Park, Midtown, Old North MilwaukeeIf you want, I can share a more detailed neighborhood breakdown or help you match the right area to your budget and strategy.

For your first flip, match funding to the project’s risk and timeline: line up a hard money or private lender that funds purchase plus rehab draws, verify rate, points, LTC/LTV, draw process, and prepay penalties, and have a clear exit with multiple outs (sell, wholetail, or pivot to DSCR if days-on-market stretch).

Tenants tell me about lease prep fees deducted from security deposits, annual financial suitability reviews with an added fee, yearly tenant insurance checks with an added fee, pet registration fees (separate from pet rent or pet deposits), annual inspections charged to tenants and other small add-ons that feel like nickel & diming.Are margins really so tight that landlords have to manufacture revenue through these junk fees?

For the life of me, I do not understand why borrowers reward lenders who intilaly tried to make a mint off the borrower but then when "match" what another lender offers.

At this stage, I’d focus on opportunities that match your current capital and experience.

Jeff Beach the owner has taken deposits for over 2 years from clients.