Quick money.

For a hard money loan, you have to close in an entity, it also helps with your credit being the mortgage is not under your name, with a 700+ credit we can usually get you 80% LTV on a purchase.

What have you found is worth the money and what isn’t?

Lake Geneva though is OLD Chicago Money and or BEER money from Milwaukee it appeared to me.

Sounds like this is a private money lender or a hard money lender.If you are getting funds from another source and relying on that to close, you should not put in the purchase agreement that you are buying with cash.

It is NOT a 'pay your money, here's your course and see you later' situation.This is a group of likeminded individuals that are all working towards the same goal and are happy to help each other grow and make it too.

The money spent doesn't make sense vs the increased rent.

I would focus on saving enough money that if I had a deal go bad, then that money I saved was there to cover it. 

I'd spend the money on vinyl.

Are you able to close the transaction (have enough money (and/or credit) ?