There are not unified terms within the lending space to differentiate a lender like myself that lends out their own capital in defined ways secured against real estate, a lender that is more synonymous with 'hard money' that has very strict underwriting criteria and documentation requirements, a friends and family lender that may give a borrower money for the downpayment or closing costs - or even DSCR lenders that will offer permanent debt on properties.It gets confusing for borrowers.

The layman, the non-investor, has the (incorrect) impression that this strategy is synonymous with "low risk."

That's not synonymous with me saying cash flow is not important, it's just not as important.The thesis should be not to look at cash flow only and understand the quality of the property is arguably the most critical element in investing.

@James McGovern, to me the answer is synonymous with why would someone invest in bonds vs in bitcoin.  

Direct him/her to use more synonyms, as opposed to more excuses.

War zones and working class neighborhoods are not always synonymous.

(Note that in CA, the terms Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Broker are synonymous since they require the same license).Brokers are effectively exempt from usury.

It seems to me that "passive investing" and "syndication have become new synonyms for the old "OPM" projects. 

@Taneisha R.You should consider having a business attorney and/or a real estate attorney as well as the two are not necessarily synonymous.

Because of “Airbnb’s” (I quote it because it has become synonymous with your cousins closet) cities are not interested in any form of vacation rentals.