Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

While we currently live in Stephens City, VA, we’re open to investing in other states where the numbers make sense.Real Estate Goals & StrategyInvestment Focus: Buy-and-hold rentals, short-term rentals, and potential multifamily propertiesMarkets of Interest: Open to investing outside of Virginia in cash-flowing, landlord-friendly marketsCurrent Stage: Learning, networking, and preparing for our first investment propertyLong-Term Vision: Build a diversified rental portfolio that provides financial freedom and generational wealthWhy I’m HereNetworking: Connecting with experienced investors, agents, lenders, and property managersLearning: Gaining insights from those who’ve built successful portfoliosCollaborating: Open to partnerships, joint ventures, and creative financing strategiesWith my sales background, I understand the importance of negotiation, deal-making, and relationship-building—all of which I plan to leverage in real estate.

DM me, and I will send you contacts for attorneys, lenders, and accountants they have previously used.

If that’s correct, here’s my non-expert opinion. 

I used a private lender, BackFlip.

Quote from @Nicholas Goerss: Hello all,I am getting ready to start looking at lender for my second conventional mortgage to buy my second property.

You can't actually pay it off directly because they've been securitized, and the people who invested in those securities did so because of the specific certainty of the payment schedule.What you do in a defeasance is use the proceeds of the sale or the funds from your new lender to purchase treasury bonds that are packaged to make the exact payment amounts and timings on the remaining term of the loan, and then assign those bonds to your old lender.

The Role of Mortgage Brokers in Real Estate FinancingMortgage brokers act as intermediaries between you and lenders, streamlining the loan process while finding the best deals for your unique situation.

@Brenden Stadelman in general legit lenders do not ask for maney up front other than for an appraisal.

Quote from @Ty Coutts: Hi Phil,in Columbus, OH, some great places to network for deals including local real estate investment clubs like the Central Ohio Real Estate Investors Association (COREIA), meetups, and events hosted by real estate brokers or lenders.