The Podcasts are the best thing since sliced bread and I'm sure participating in the forum is unmatched.

@Ryan KoehlerWell the way I would do it is contact at least 2 different lending institutions.  

The only way to learn how competitive it is, is to participate or at least observe.

It's always good to have experienced investors joining and willing to to participate by sharing experience. 

I am looking forward to participating in the Meetup's going forward, however I will be traveling this evening and can't make it. 

Its been my experience that financial institutions will refi on the purchase price with less than a year of ownership, but refi on the value of the property after 12 months.

This is a cash, equity participation or owner finance deal.

I have done one of these as an active participant partnering with another BP person (just to see what the process was like), and I used the attorney that does all of Ned's foreclosures -- he charged a flat-fee for the process. 

You might find it challenging to get any type of institutional loan due to property condition.  

These - as long as they are provided via SIPC/FINRA licensed institutions and advisers - can be a good means to finance investment real estate.