@Adaze Foltz  Benefits:Direct to the source; more control over the receipt of the funds (initial and any rehab draws); able to not just establish a relationship, but also perhaps gain referrals of other private lending sources (those that are happy with the returns and payoffs - talk (boast) to their friends); faster to the table; can negotiate the terms (rate, when payments are made, other fees and when they are paid, etc.); usually nothing reported to credit bureaus.Risks:Using up the private sources money (tapping them out); The private lender didn't receive their payoffs on other loans as anticipated so they are short of funding your deal(s). 

I think this gives the slightest of advantages to people who are smaller investors, and also people who are willing to perhaps sacrifice some time and energy short term for long term gains.

I am weighing different strategies in the Chattanooga area and wanted to gain more insight into new construction cost structure in the region. 

Some rehab style lenders make it difficult for newbies to gain maximum leverage due to lack of deals done.......NOT US!

You can gain knowledge to take you out of being a beginner to make that purchase, but yeah, you are priced out of CA to house hack as I said in the other post.

( Cleveland ) I’d like to see how others are gaining properties so quickly instead of saving up 20% each time. what are my options to avoid having to save up 20% each time for a down payment  DSCR loans are a popular choice for investors in Cleveland, as the real estate market is reasonably priced.

After five years you'll have earned $90,000 in rent income and gained $34,000 in appreciation.Buy four houses with $50,000 down on each.

If you subsequently purchased a property for 200k, would you count gains/losses against the 50k you now put in or against the 25k you started with as that’s what you’re actually out of pocket, depending on how you look at it.I hope I worded that clearly 

It’s the best choice I’ve made so far in my real estate journey because of the solid foundation you gain through off-market acquisitions, as well as the deep understanding of marketing and sales that allows me to offer better services.

Last thing you want is to decide to sell after you've been abroad for a while, and then owe both the foreign and the US government on the capital gains.