They'd be much better off being a Hard Money Lender and make 5 times that (and every repair to their "investment house" is paid by them...So, if you put $10k down on a property and make $150/month net cash flow your Coc Return (annualized) is 18% which is Very Good.If you followed that and understand it then keep looking for a deal.

Switch Lenders: I’m currently working on refinancing (six other properties), so I’m thinking maybe I should take everything to another lender who might be a better fit.  

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

We are coming down to get a feel for some neighborhoods we've been looking at moving too and don't really have too much planned so I thought it would be a great time to connect with some lenders, investors, contractors, and liked mind individuals while I'm there!

If you do decide to start flipping homes- as a new investor you can either self finance with all cash, or you can contact a commercial lender like myself and expect terms to be 75-80% of the purchase price with 100% of the rehab financed through a draw.

We were trying to buy a loan that was in default and the current lender was emotionally attached and has it listed for over $2M when comps are $1.5M. 

Are there specific lenders or servicers that are more likely to call these loans?

Other than paying for an appraisal or BPO (and maybe a credit report), you should not pay a lender anything until your loan funds.

I have a robust team of mortgage lenders, title companies and RE attorneys.

The decisions and actions you make today can lead to incredible long-term benefits, so it's great that you're starting now.A good starting point is connecting with a lender that aligns with your goals.