What I would ultimately love to setup would be a seller carry back deal where I put the money I do have as my down payment, get the rest from the seller as a second, and finance the majority of it through a tradition institution.

Hi Shari,I recommend checking the Appraisal Institute member roster for that area at www.appraisalinstitute.org.

Since inception Colony has invested $48 billion in over 19,000 assets/loans and has ~$25 billion of assets under management (gross) on behalf of over 250 institutional investors.Through the identification of supply-demand source imbalances in capital, product types and information availability, Colony achieves attractive risk-adjusted returns by investing in real estate and real estate-related debt investments, non-performing loans, distressed assets, real estate-dependent operating companies, and select commercial and residential development opportunities throughout the world.

I reject the premise that Big institutions have an advantage.

The economics are not there for the arts.The 501 c 3 non-profit art sector was lobbied for and instituted by the likes of Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Mellon.

I am an accounting professional who works in risk management for a large private banking institution.

HOWEVER, most FHLMC/FMNA / SECONDARY MARKET institutional lenders require that the originator have the NMLS endorsement for ANY 1-4 family loan, whether or not the loan is for consumer purposes, so many people think that is the law, which it's not.I believe that 90% of the people in the lending industry aren't aware of this distinction.

I'm sure your refinancing institution will let you know.Just to give you some heads up.

Company colors, how's it look in royal blue and light grey, red and white, yellow and black....?

I have worked with both large Reits and private equity real estate (PERE) as a broker, from what I know REITS are more institutional in their structure and in the properties they invest in, and are SEC regulated, whereas , PERE can be smaller, more nimble, and operate a little more "off the grid" so to speak relative to REITS.