Proof of Funds letter from the Scott Yancey workshop

[Ronald Wallis]

Good day all,

My wife and I attended the Scott Yancey workshop this past weekend and no we did not pay the ridiculous amount of money for the mentoring. We attended the workshop for access to their "Proof of Funds" letter only to find out on Sunday that it was only for Wholesaling and you have to have a buyer prior to the deal getting funded.  

I have a few questions.

1. Is this a standard practice for lenders to require you to have a buyer already in place?

2. Is there an easier way to use hard money lenders? 

Thanks in advance.