All of the other “players”… politely walk away and don’t look back.

The institionalized players typically have 100-200 BPS lower rates than standard hard money lending players but they're clunky and have lots of requirements its almost like the instituional HML should be called "hybrid hard money or hybrid bridge money," because of all these requirements.When we're working with those instutionalized players we usually have to do almost as much work as a conventional loan (1-4 fannie, not quite but almost as much).If you'd like to learn more about the different options or get a sounding board on what options are out there feel free to reach out and we can talk shop.

I am going to assume, then it might make sense to go with a major player in the dst's.

However, subsequent increases in interest rates caused a substantial reshuffling, reestablishing New York and Los Angeles as the dominant players.

I do however know a few people that have scaled up STR businesses here, like one friend/client who has 12 and there are some bigger players for sure.

One would have to describe why it's safer than a CD, Bond, Annuity (which is federally insured) or just the S&P 500.

They also have a 1.55% cd at the moment.

He can't tell me of any other investors in my area and he says they have two brothers:  one a surgeon and the other an NFL from player who have put millions into this. 

One of the downsides is that the investor has to pay alot more for it, so is it worth getting maybe just a few percent more than a cd? 

Hey @Bailey Brown - I recommend attending a local meetup about REI (not a seminar) as that's where you'll get to brush shoulders with other investors and players in the RE space in your region.