Instead, start with shopping for a reputable lender, one with reviews, licensing, and a presence, then see which one is offering a fair rate and term.

I always say that if you call someone and they can come right over (and you have never used them before), keep calling . . . the one you want is the one that is booked.Be careful about taking on partners / investors with one under your belt - if something goes south, your reputation and their money (along with your equity) will follow suit.Join a local REIG to find investors that may be interested in partnering and see if there are deals offered. 

Don't forget, your half brother destroyed your reputation. 

Hi everyone,I’m actively trying to acquire a well-established hostel property with a strong reputation and long operating history.

She checked out the company and found that Santarelli appeared to have a good reputation.

I always just start with there are about 10 easy questions on contracts that have fairly significant consequences and maybe fees involved that I and even bad realtors can probably answer for you instantly, but you probably don't know the answer to any of them without spending a lot of time looking them up. 

Run the numbers on both and go with what feels right for your goals.Can you find a single reputable source that shows any Midwest market has better cash flow than San Diego for a hold as long as 10 years or longer?   

You want the contract to clearly outline responsibilities, payments, and consequences if the buyer defaults.Communication with the Lender – Even if you don’t notify them directly, it’s good to know your loan terms and options in case issues come up.Basically, sub2 can be great for sellers wanting out quickly, but it’s important to protect yourself legally and financially.

Those discovery call questions (especially about contracts, renewals, and maintenance) are exactly the kind of things I wouldn’t have thought to ask until it was too late.My biggest hesitation with out-of-state investing is making sure I’m working with a property manager I can really trust, and your advice about digging into reputation, references, and even local referrals makes a lot of sense.

Using a reputable broker can make selling easier if you ever want liquidity.Challenges: Late payments, understanding local foreclosure laws, and staying on top of servicing can be tricky.