Rates and terms vary widely based on the relationship and agreement between the lender and borrower.Comparison:Interest Rates and Fees: Both can be high, but private money might offer more favorable terms if you have a good relationship with the lender.Approval and Flexibility: Private money can be more flexible and tailored to your needs, while hard money has standardized criteria.Source: Hard money comes from companies; private money comes from individuals.Your business partner’s model has worked well, but diversifying your financing sources is smart.

I believe that successfully navigating this initial investment will pave the way for future opportunities, whether in the same market or elsewhere.Living in New York City, I faced a challenging market ;)I chose Montgomery, Alabama.Here's my process:I compiled a list of states with favorable landlord laws.Using Brightinvestor, I identified cities within those states where the median home price falls below the national average ($420k).I excluded cities with negative income growth and rising unemployment rates.I focused on cities with strong appreciation rates over the past five years (over 10%).I compared price-to-rent ratios.I did break two rules: Montgomery has a slight decline in population, and its largest employers are an Air Force base and government agencies.One significant factor that influenced my decision was the promising price-to-rent ratio, suggesting potential for positive cash flow (though I remain cautious about appreciation).Regarding my acquisition strategy:I plan to employ the BRRR method with cash.

They massivley lack transparancy throughout the entire process, they don't have a centralizzed real estate plattform like MLS, so you have to look everywhere, the system favors dual agency which brings a whole slew of issues and favors slimeball sales tactics, contracts are basically home made by attorneys so unbelievavbly rudimentary (like 2 pages, large print) and the process is increadibly messy!

Contracts with large builders are certainly 100% in favor of the builder at the detriment to the buyer....but thats the case with all of them. 

Being the novice savvy investor I am, I want to make a deal to house swap, move into their bigger home for my growing family, and have them move in our home that is more favorable for senior living.

Consider factors like neighborhood, school districts, and proximity to amenities.Financing and Mortgage Considerations:Investment Property Mortgage: Understand that an investment property mortgage may have higher interest rates and require a larger down payment compared to a primary residence mortgage.Future Refinance: Consider the possibility of refinancing the property when you decide to move in, potentially lowering your interest rate and monthly payments.Loan Types: Look into loan types that might offer favorable terms for investment properties, such as conventional loans or FHA loans if the property meets the criteria.Rental Management:Long-Term vs.

After calling in a couple of favors, I am able to put the funds together over the next four weeks and as such we were able to go into contract yesterday with a closing date five weeks out. 

Additionally, it enables you to capitalize on opportunities quickly without waiting to accumulate sufficient personal funds, thus maximizing your growth potential and taking advantage of favorable market conditions.

If you go to Boglehead's they tend to bash real estate investing, whereas on this website the subject tends to favor more real estate. 

I guess one would have to dive into the summons and complaints to see exactly what was alledged and then subsequently ruled on  ( in favor of plaintiff)..