If the borrower stops paying their insurance you can put forced insurance in place and back charge them for it until they get their insurance back in place.I don't see why you couldn't request other collateral though it might thin your pool of potential borrowers and you might run into other legal challenges if they're putting up a residential home as additional collateral.

If equity, the deal is a pooled investment (collective investment) where the investors are passive JV partners.

I installed a ductless 2200 BTU Gree split system in March 2017 in an 800 square foot unit in warm and sunny Los Angeles. 

The informed me that they had purchased a above-ground pool. 

I'm familiar with corporations and LLCs that pool the funds of several lenders and loan them out for a certain percentage and/or lender points.

However, on Groundfloor you can only invest in individual properties, and can't easily pool your risk like you can through buying shares of equity investment eREIT's which are offered on many of the platforms.I have seen some sites which combine debt/equity investments into an eREIT, but I haven't seen any debt only offerings for some reason.

If you have never owned a rental to start out with renters that only pay 375 to 450 a month is a huge risk.. that's the bottom of the tenant pool.. and very tough to manage tons of turn over tons of drama.I would not recommend this type of property for a first investment. regardless of your negotiations with the seller … no money down low ball for a performing property rarely if ever works.. works if half were vacant or something or burnt out landlord.. but hey you tried.. 

We had to move out of Southern California due to a job relocation and built our place in 2016 in Los Angeles, it's really nice in gated community with a pool, 5 bedroom 4 bath with a main level suite and full bath (a second master, an in-law suite, a home office) appx 2600 square feet.

The allure comes from very generous common spaces, lounge areas, outdoor space, pool areas, gyms and - I have even seen an indoor golf simulator.

If I can build a pool of assets which pay me income today until forever, do I really care if I have extra money sitting in a retirement account that I cannot touch for years?