@Karen SmithAs jay mentioned private lending has been around forever and it’s really not on the rise - I think it’s always been a large player in the real estate investment space for short term loans.

If you are a fan of Perioa Illinois you should connect with @Brad Stegall he's a big investor in the area and has a large meetup there.I say invest for your Grandson! 

Sumrok totally focused on mid-large multifamily. 

Your return will largely depend on how you operate it.

I sold my company to a national PMC named PURE,  they have a large footprint in California and are always looking for people at most levels. 

This would be a large residential development in a rural town with a great location.

The lower barrier to entry would be excellent for my personally smaller net worth.

I have my own website that I built through Wix.

I would check on this website on the find an agent feature or search Zillow for teams/agents in your area doing 25 or more deals a year.  

For each property listed through a Section 8 website, over 100 requests for application are received within the first couple of hours.