We do this for a living and our reputation depends on you successfully securing a loan, on time, and as promised. 

To keep his reputation he paid those investors back the $100,000 plus 8% which he did not have to.  

best of luck on your journey. i would partner up with a reputable mentor if this is your first deal.

Sometimes in the very beginning, piggybacking from the reputation of your broker can be helpful as you begin to build your own professional RE reputation.   

Like deferred maintenance, (bad roof, worn out water heater/AC Unit, warped flooring, water damage) etc, unpaid utilities,  unpaid taxes, a second loan, unpaid HOA fees, a bad pool, bad reputation, sometimes squatters, sometimes they were drug houses, and so on.

But it’s scary to think that your hard earned money, reputation, and deals could be in jeopardy because of bad lenders.

Yes I am complaining but I am in the boat of I do not see it worse than before, it has changed an AI has it being so obvious and I saw an AI post the other day from someone who has an excellent reputation and had a good amount of responses and left it, but I know it was AI based on the structure. 

There are reputable companies out there, however, but I would shy away from any company that mentions turn-key.Long story short, real estate is very forgiving over time and these properties cash flow well and I was able to build a great team for future deals. 

If that is the case then I would say yeah work with an agent who has a solid reputation either here or from a friend referral.

A broker who can also deliver a reputable management company (themselves or an independent company) willing to take over management at closing is a real plus for any residential rental investment.