., it’s common to ask for a down payment of 10-20% of the sale price. 1.

You have the area experience and data to help you, but courthouse steps auctions are blind bidding (other than what you can find through the windows), all cash, 10 percent down at the time of close, and not always clear on all of the liens associated with the house (tax liens, HOA liens, utility liens, etc.). 

Invariably, there's commonly some version of "we've always done it this way" or "because person X said so last time" or "well you just can't do that" that is creating the roadblock.

Seems like maybe a less common scenario, but can't be the first time someone has done this. 

If this were an apartment complex, you would have full rights to camera up the common areas. 

@Li Kia, I don't know your state's laws but speaking generally and using common sense:They gave you notice on 5/12 and moved out 6/13.

Software is a common question on BiggerPockets.

That's a fairly common issue in smaller markets.

Jackson nailed the answer to your first question.A HELOC is a line of credit using real estate as collateral.A credit card is a line using your credit as collateral (nothing).A business line of credit uses your business as collateral.A "PAL" or pledged asset line is a line of credit that uses your investments as collateral.Etc.All of them share in common that they are a line of credit; you draw what you need and only pay interest on what you use.Traditionally, lines of credit that have collateral are going to have much lower interest rates than those that don't, like credit cards, because in the event of default there is nothing to seize.

What role do private money lenders and hard money loans play in creative real estate financing, and how can investors effectively utilize them?