Since its inception over 5 years ago, my overall rate of return has been 5%.... not that stellar.

Obviously the rates will not be stellar but there must be some benefits to doing this.

Some sellers might not trust real estate agents due to previous run-in with less than stellar agents.

Agree with @Andrew Johnson that you are crazy not to maximize your tax deductions through real estate debt, especially with low interest rates and am presuming stellar credit.

So, all of this to say that though nothing in life or investments are guaranteed, there are some companies out there with stellar track records and means by which these things can be analyzed to make for a fairly safe bet, at least in so much as a sustainable dividend payout goes.

Performing Note 
Kansas City MO 
Price $25,200 
Selling 138 payments 
Buyback Option After 60 Months 
Value $140,000 
Current balance $35,687 
Original balance $37,000 
P & I $324.70 
Original term 360 
Remaining term 297 
Investment to value 26% 
Loan to value 36% 
Interest rate 10% 
Effective yield 10.35% 
Seasoning-Stellar - 53 Months 
Dodd Frank N/A 08/14/2012 
Projected rent $947

I have never had a problem with people abusing this.I also have over 50 5 star reviews on Homeaway because renters don't have to want for any basic supplies.Did someone give you a less than stellar review due to them being short a couple rolls of TP?

I also was so motivated and dumb at one time that I used my stellar credit in the past to fund a brokerage account for "binary options"... upwards of 250k.

If you find a stellar deal that is a cash cow but you make no money and are in debt $200k why would they lend to you?

But there may be stellar deals offering awesome ROI in both areas six months apart, so as long as the "power 4" (as they called them in the podcast) are established in both areas then it really just comes down to deal chasing.At least that's how I see it as someone with one rental and a big dream lol