The commonality amongst most are small check sizes and the inability to articulate what exactly they invested in.  

Another example would be that we have an internal price catalogue for common repairs/replacements that crosses from PM maintenance and fix/flips.

You may also occassionally see 6 or 7 month lease terms with LTR (more common when an annual tenant renews for an additional 6 months, for example).I've never heard of a 2-5 year lease term when referring to MTR.

What common red flags do you look for in applications?

A few questions I’d love feedback on:Are there common traits among sponsors who lost investor money?

By showing genuine interest in brokers' lives, such as knowing about their families and common interests, we strengthen the bond.

So in my case, the down payment didn’t sit as equity until after the loan was finalized and the funding came through.Hope that helps clear things up, Everyone’s deal structure can vary, but getting the financing secured first seems to be the common approach.

Common fees that could be in the contract: - Collected late fees - shared 50/50 with manager - Lease renewal fees  - If allowable by law, your manager negotiates renewals at a 1-1.5% of the lease value. - Mileage - Some PM's like charging mileage associated with the building. - Tech Fees - Usually $3-$5/unit a month - Printing and Postage - Only as needed. 

For operating risk, a common starting point is three to six months of fixed expenses at the property level—property taxes, insurance, utilities you’re responsible for, management, and a prudent maintenance buffer.

Rule #1 is to never be a forced seller, and too much leverage on a deal that goes sideways is probably the most common reason why that happens.I have done a deal where I bought a distressed property that could not qualify for a conventional loan with a HELOC, so it was a 100% financed deal.