I've closed a bunch of loans with Kiavi, Roc, and a few with ABL, I also closed with RCN, Easy Street, Lima One, and some smaller private lenders.I've come to the conclusion that the experience at the lender is not globally good or globally bad. 

its most unfortunate that you had to go through this deception and theft from someone who is considered a professional in this business. we definitely appreciate you putting the warning out about this character. as hard as it is to find a reliable experienced contractor nowadays its even harder to find one that's not a crook and a liar and that's truly pathetic.   

As both an investor and a mortgage broker who has personally used both options, I can say there are benefits to each.It ultimately comes down to comparing the two side by side based on your specific situation.

In 2024 we bought two homes - a duplex rental in Utah and a primary residence in Santa Cruz County, California.

This is the “over night” success that’s taken 20 years.2 - Superior uncommon knowledge, combined with experience and capital and a willingness to take a risk (speculate).  

In 4 or 5 years you will have appreciation and a solid number of years with 2% remaining.  

I've talked to lots of California and a few NYC investors that have lost money (including myself) who bought inexpensive properties in the Midwest mostly and a few in the South (Class C is volatile). - some strategies I've seen California investors use to lessen negative cash flow: house hacking, mid-term rentals (people temporarily displaced from home renovation or insurance reasons like fire), rent by the room, Short Term Rentals. - The ultimate house hack, live in the small ADU unit and rent out the two levels of the main house on AirBnb in San Francisco (I would have thought STRs are oversaturated in S.F. but it worked for them and they stay fully booked).

Always have a detailed scope of work and a price in a written contract.  

Everyone thinks they can paint but there's a big difference between a professional paint job and a non-professional one (the latter usually actually damages the property instead of improving it). 

And as someone that grew up in Missouri, this post caught my eye, particularly because I'd never heard of Lebanon, MO so I had to look it up on Google Maps.