Figure out a question set that helps dive into their expertise as investor-friendly agents, ask about their experience in the investment real estate space, and have them send you a few properties that could meet your goals to show that they can provide quality properties for your to analyze (hint: this is also good to see if they overpromised on their market [ex - Raleigh for cash flow]).Also with the new lawsuit, any agent that knows what they're doing will require you to sign an agency agreement prior to viewing a home.

Quote from @Bill Petersen: Quote from @Nick Belsky: @Geoffrey SerdarThat's the #1 sign of a scam.  

We did have some work done on the house to ready it for rent and had the signed agreement in December so it was definitely in service.

My bigger question is: do people NOT have an attorney review what they sign before they sign it.

Wise lenders have borrowers sign legal agreements and have them provide collateral that is worth more than the amount of the loan in case the borrower doesn't make the promised payments on the loan.

Sounds like you are a buyer, so you should know that the buyer's agent has to have you sign a buyer broker, the game changed last year but did it..

But the ‘investors’ funding letter in black & white says ‘this offer is considered cash’ & it’s signed by Nick Raimondi of Insula Capital Group, a private lender for Real Estate Investments.

They're charging second mortgage rates on a first mortgage, nice investment if you can get it.Getting the former owner to sign a second mortgage for the amount you paid at tax sale works, if he pays, and if he signs. 

Aiden, you need to get everything signed.

I’m continuing to work with the tenant, but we’ll be approaching two weeks late with no signs of plans to pay.