It'd be nice to be able to assign the lease but most sellers want to vet who is running their collateral so they won't go for that.

He stated you could use a retirement account as collateral for an unsecured loan.  

Yes, if you pay, you get a copy.It's a CU, not a bank, sounds like a portfolio loan and not a secondary market product, so yes, the can evaluate the collateral as they please, but they are going above and beyond prudent lending to much tougher requirements, not great marketing for loan services but they can.Market value is what we generally work with in real estate, but we do have other valuations, liquidation, salvage value, tax and estate valuations.

The loan officer stated they could use my property as collateral instead of a down-payment. 

Some depend on revenue and credit and some can be secured by using real estate collateral or other valuables.

If its east coast like new York PA New jersey.. the chances of loss ARE GREAT.. because the time it takes to get your collateral back.. this is, as I posted on your other thread one of the things I have seen going on in CF space just making loans all over the country with no clue or thought to the default scenarios and the time it takes to corral your collateral.. by the time you do a 1 to 3 year judicial foreclosure in these states your collateral could be totally trashed.. stick to deed of trust states with quick foreclosure times.

Charlie, i have learned to avoid exchanges, they really don't bring anythign to the table except higher costs, and longer times to get the collateral, if they can get it at all.

Well, first off, I don't have the most amazing credit score, and I have little in the way of collateral to secure a loan.

Does the person you lent to out up collateral of some sort?

For most traditional banks, they'll want to see 3 years of tax returns, personal financial statements, P&Ls, and additional support (such as marketable investments, collateral, and/or liquid funds) that will show that you're able to support your responsibilities and repay all debt, but specifically theirs.