It is tough being one fish in a pond of sharks.

IF they are just a "private lender" lending to you directly, recognize that you are diving into a shark tank where many newbies have been eaten alive.I don't care where you met him/her or how nice they seemed.

remember the cardinal rule about real estate ... it's the location first...you want the bad property in the best neighborhood...all the money is made in the buy. you buy wrong and your dreams will take a hit. trust no one with a conflict of interest ...the most dangerous sharks have beautiful pearly whites ...pay an old retired rehabber to ride around with you!

It seems obvious to those who working mortgage lending and financial services, but for those with no experience, they may as well be in the shark tank. 

Logan Allec  I don't see it razor thin margins.. and in texas tax's will eat your lunch if you have to hold for any period of time. 

I'd like to take out the mortgage under my name because I have residential fannie mae slots open on my credit (haven't hit 10 properties yet), and the interest rates are lower.

Not unless your back is against the wall, creditors are banging your door down and your local loan shark isn't answering your calls. 

I use some of the real estate income to finance other investments like buying gold and silver, buy 2 ATM & 3 vending machines, raw land for private park slots & learning how to raise capital for more real estate and a business.

This doesn't make them a shark or a crook.

Now- I've turned many of theses deals down over the years...I like to look at it like all of us investors are sharks...we know what things are worth and we will take as much as we can get, which is why we buy foreclosures and flip retail.