If you're already in a secure financial position, leveraging your equity could be a smart strategy.

What do you do to ensure that the tenant is responsible for security deposit disputes since that is the largest reason for owner lawsuitsHow familiar are you with the newly changed laws that can affect you the owner if they are not used correctly?.

If the agent is doing the marketing, finding the potential buyers and possibly working with other agents to help you secure a deal then I would still charge 2.5% for my listing services and 2.5% to any buyer's agent. 

He even tells us not to do business with seniors on Social Security or with newbies, but he has no qualms of ripping me off on Social Security and a newbie!

Are you licensed to recommend investments (i.e. financial advisor, broker, dealer)?

He wanted me to paypal him 750 so that he would send the 20k needed to bridge the gap in the loan.The easiest way to spot a red flag is to start with going through a title company. hopefully you did nto give this person your social security number or other private information.

Thank you Eric.In addition to the rental properties, my wife and I have a paid off house, paid off car, and about $1.4m in retirement accounts, brokerages, and savings.We live in a HCOL area and our expenses are $9.5k per month even though we live pretty modestly.I set out initially to have real estate pay for at least some of my expenses in order to give me more freedom and financial security.

-Decreased security deposit to 1x for MTR.

In 2018, we had a property turn and the net cost to you out of pocket was around $500 (costs to repair minus the security deposit that was returned to you.)

It's a riskier loan given you do not carry a social security, no US credit & no experience.Due to increased risk comes mitigation (Lower LTV & Higher Rates)