Both times it has worked in my favor with long term renters which one purchased the property after renting for 8 years.

A house is a more valuable asset than a Mobile Home, and if you can "hack" your way into owning a wise, financially sound $50,000 asset or a $50,000 I'd always favor the more valuable one all other things equal.

I think it's going to be eye opening for people when they see that these "hot markets" we hear about often on BP aren't as favorable as sometimes people make them out to be.

Fortune favors the bold. 

In the end you have to use whatever loan program fits your current financial situation the best, but in terms of your offer looking favorable to a seller conventional is always the way to go if all is equal.

I'm comfortable with the hard money lender approach, but for the rates available to me (~10-11% interest, 3 points upfront, ~$1,200 processing fee), I figured I might as well ask a few high net-worth friends if they would be open to acting as investors and offering more favorable terms. 

I hear you, I work in real estate sales with investors here in San Antonio, "landlord" is becoming a less popular term for sure.Not sure if it has to do with younger millennial renters or what, but I've found that when you tell people you "own properties" instead, it tends to be a favorable label.

May also look at Running Springs since inventory and prices aren’t really favorable in BB.

There are limits to the amount of personal loans you can have, but there are portfolio lenders that will give loans at a less favorable rate once you surpass your personal limit.

So if someone is able to grab a flippable property and get it listed quickly, the market is very favorable to the sale side right now.