I am yet to start reaching out to lenders/mortgage brokers as I feel I am still to far out.Does the BP community have any advise/expertise to offer as I go through the first stages of this journey?!

That should build in some protection.

So just keep working with individual investors.Remember that while the local expertise and skill in buying and selling homes, negotiating, etc. is hard to replace, the actual license that entitles them to save on commissions is not.

he seems to have some complex strategies for asset protection and taxes. 

Banks want to protect their bottom line, won't accept low ball offers.

I think the loan to value ratio should hoepfuly keep me protected from most oversight but I'm am completely new to this and I don't know what i dont know.  

That contract protects the agent from a buyer potentially calling a sign or going rogue at an open house and signing a purchase agreement with another agent after we have spent time with that particular person. 

This is a business I know pretty well :)There is a lot that goes into a deal and knowing what to do when one goes South is where protecting the money up front matters. 

Of course you can't discriminate against protected classes of people, but having a standup shower will likely detract families with children under 6 years old.

That carpet will protect the floor!