I started at 31 - 6 years ago, buy my first rental unit, barely cashflow positive, around minus $100-200/ month, though a good deal for appreciation of the property (2x of purchase price), the second one was 3 years ago, better rental setup and better income (learnt from the first setup and competitors), bought a house to live in 2 years ago which mortgage is paid from the income of the second rental property, completed the mortgage of the first unit last year (5 years MTRG),on going for the third property using BRRRR that I learned here in BP.

John Croke with Trustco has consistently and easily beaten any competitors rates for my wife’s buyer clients (~16 of them this year). 

He would be a competitor so I really don't want to ask him for advise.This is a short breakdown of situation.

I guess my other question is how much do you look at your competitors.

Coinmach said they had the right to be considered before any of their competitors.

Also the commercial agents are not very open in helping train a competitor in their market.

Several times, I have found good deals, and then have had them stolen by an agent. Are there any laws against this? There SHOULD be a law that you are either an Agent or an Investor, BUT NOT BOTH!

That said, I'm really looking for honest recommendations as I swear amazon authors must have friends pimp their own books and write 1 star for every competitors book.

I have never heard the term 'partitioned note' used, however I like it and will ethically swipe it for deals in future that fit what have been multi note bene purchase money carry back deals.

@Jeremy Davis   A company like Zillow will never settle for what they are currently making..whether it be millions or billions...spending $3 Billion to acquire a competitor shows they have plans on seriously impacting the real estate market in the near future.