I think what you’re referring to is a checkbook IRA so you can bypass the custodian when performing transactions/investing and all assets/accounts will be held in the name of a special purpose LLC or Trust which is the instrument that gives you checkbook control.  

I have great lenders and property managers I can refer you to.In Cleveland, it all depends on what your goal is.

the cash flow you are referring to, are you attributing that to the $900 difference between the PITI and the gross rents?

In the pitch I include just a couple of my projects from the last year as a reference to my experience. 

Get at least 3-5 quotes and check references.

So, I reached out to a local brokerage, and they referred me to an agent with significant experience.This man has built a $30 million portfolio himself, and in just a couple of meetings, he completely shifted my perspective.

You definitely want to use a thorough screening method like rentprep.com that gets their income, credit, background check, and call at least 3 references (make sure to verify them by address/job and then their name).  

This is a touchy subject.If you observed specific concerning behaviors during interactions, such as rudeness, aggression, or disrespect for property, these could potentially be valid reasons for rejection if documented properly.You should add one very important things to do on your checklist, past landlord references and it must be legit and find out why they aren't there any longer.

Quote from @Erick Pena: A "good" rental property is one that covers all expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, property management fees, and any other costs) and still leave a surplus (commonly referred to as cash flow).Calculate cash flow as: Cash Flow = Rental Income − Operating Expenses − DebtThere's much more to it, but that's the basic idea.

Bankers are generally not aware of hard money loan options, and even if they are, they don't generally refer them when they believe they can approve a loan to you from their bank.