@Edward R.Being in the window industry, most distributors won't deal with regular customers like you.

UNLESS you have a large amount of liquid assets available in the event you need them, but still the long game wins.Best of Luck.

However, I would really like it if a lender could use my brokerage account as my “skin-in-the-game”, vs putting 10-30% down on the deal in cash.

it takes the same amount of work to do a 500K loan as it does a 50K loan. the loan balances are smaller so income is MUCH less, so the banks return on overhead and time is far less. it's a product banks provided to keep a big customer base, not a money maker.

It is similar to a cook at a popular restaurant buying meat, but cooking it on the company grills, using the waitresses to serve it out the back door to customer pulling up paying cash.

WOW what other advertiser could treat customers this way and get away with it?

I've been at this game for a while now, and I'm looking to start to build my portfolio as well as leave less money on the table by doing some fix & flip deals myself.Anyway, that's about it.

That way, interested sellers can call me and we can work on a deal.It's a numbers game, John. 

But first, here's some homework for you - on one sheet (digital or analog) write down:Pull out your comps research and demographics, from this create an ideal customer. there's plenty online to walk you through how to perfectly describe this person in detail. 

I'm thinking about going into business with a friend who is a custom builder and curious to know what the industry standard is for the business arrangement given our potential situation.