If it is someone you know you can give them a straight return as if its a loan - can provide a lower interest rate to provide upside - it really depends on the lender and what are they concerned with and what is their risk profile. 

so you're recommending that my starting point should be finding a real estate agent, utilize theirbknowledge to learn about the process, and get referrals for good loan officers.

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

A buyer agreement is the legal document that provides the agent with the assurance that he/she will get paid if they work with you to complete a real estate transaction. 

Freddie Mac only offers financing for single properties they do not offer 'Portfolio loans" meaning bundle them all into one loan.

The sale of our home will provide us with approximately $150,000 to allocate toward investments.At this stage, we feel most comfortable focusing on long-term rentals.

Hey Marcus welcome to the community, I work in the Kansas City area and could provide some value to your investing journey.

Another way to say is that what is the value of the property (today) compared to what is owed on the loan?

There are several myths that we have to debunk before someone truly believes they can do it.You need millions of dollars to do a dealThat it’s too complicated to figure outThat permitting takes yearsIn those communities developments cost way less (think a couple hundred thousand along with a loan from a regional bank), permitting is not difficult (much less red tape), and the towns are small enough that both the city staff and the local architects and engineers and contractors all work with you to help you navigate the process since you’re all invested in making your community better.Note: The big boys can play in the primary & secondary markets.

  $190k all-in ($131,250 30 year loan, $43,750 DP and $15k in renovations).