Investment mortgages, like DSCR loans for investment properties, typically come with prepayment penalties (PPP) to protect against prepayment risk and the keep portfolio CPR in line.

I'm sure Elite has complex T&Cs to protect themselves, but it costs you nothing to dispute the transaction.  

This fact makes it possible to easily adjust the LTV ratio and protect the lender’s investment.  

Since you generally won't know for sure when a party will end, you can try to protect yourself when entering the party by buying into the type of property investment that will suffer less should the party come to an end.

As a Baselane user and fellow landlord, I really want to understand how this went down and what I can do to protect myself.

Furnace filters can go either way; some landlords handle it to protect the HVAC system, while others leave it to tenants with a reminder schedule.

You could film your logo at intervals to add some protection from it being easily copied.

Having legal documents in place help protect you. 

What are some standard process or contracts needed before the partnership to make sure both parties are protected?

Review your loan agreement for restrictions, and consult legal and tax professionals to ensure compliance and protect your interests.In C State, you can elect to file MMLLC as disregarded entity for tax reasons.