Rather than the next false bottom we are about to head into.

brokers" and "wannabees" ...First there are the "wannabees" who are searching the web boards like Bigger Pockets desperately looking for potential clients and declaring they are private lenders who can do deals but as soon as you make your request they are in touch in ever how many real Private Lenders they can find that will listen,  Then they get you "hooked" with a  "LOW" false fee and 2% to 4% promise they will lend you money. 

Your first statement is absurd.

$200 a month seems a bit absurd.  

I've been a small contractor for 20 years and I have never heard of anyone getting 70% off materials, that's s absurd.

Others claims that it somehow underperformed is false. 

The guy doing the menial labor may not be the most intelligent person, but he probably feels a great sense of pride over being economically owned by no man but himself.The cube slave, on the other hand, trades his time and self direction for a pay check and a false sense of job security.

well, false alarm, he's at the property now, just got the call...

Only 2 of my properties have any of my initial investment left in the property (one has an absurd low interest loan and the other has not yet appreciated enough to warrant refinancing). 

Just remember FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real!