The hard money lender was chosen because of their business model: Good deal, Good credit, some money in the bank, Let's make it work.

I've chosen this option because I want to be debt free when purchasing my first investment property (house hacking).

Additionally, someone's car was shot up on New Year's (I think that was a vehicle just chosen at random).Prior to selling, she had spoken with my PM (and boss) regarding possible rents vs. selling.  

I've chosen not to rent to criminals in general, especially serious offenders.

If the seller can not or will not meet the demands or requests or the buyer's chosen lender, he can either ask the buyer to consider finding a new lender, or accept that the buyer can not perform and sell the property to someone else.

Obviously your chosen career gives you considerable experience and knowledge that will benefit you in your investing.

Compare that person with the one that has chosen to take steroids and now can stretch out his career for many more years because his body can hold up better now.

I just received orders to my chosen location for investment for career advancement and REI opportunities.

Start with the MLS, but get use to having MLS on monitor one, and your chosen title company's title lookup website on monitor two, and of course google on monitor number three to see what "123 Main LLC" is and if that owner of public record is married to someone with a criminal history. 

That is the path I have chosen in my home market of Sacramento.