Never thought to look for potential partners (especially with all the promotion given to hard money lenders---even though hard money isn't the best for rental deals from what I've found).

So I always planned to change to regular by the month leasing.

@Christina Morales1) Posts like this one should go into marketplace to avoid being deleted2) Your best bet is to connect with the brokers locally as well as to become a regular at the local REI events found via BP and Meetup.

Should he be calling you and giving you regular updates? 

There's 2 of these which are currently under contract, so they're regulars to the MLS.

For “regular” lease option deals, where I’m assuming investors put 20% down, does the investor intend to collect an option consideration that covers his original down payment?

It may not make sense to purchase a coin operated machine as they are soo much pricier than regular machines.

I’ll be reminding myself of these on a regular basis!

Instead of putting a huge down payment on a property that in some cases will not cash flow as a regular rental, then it's better to start with arbitrage, and then decide between more arbitrage or buying HOUSES now that he has experience.

I assure you no agent is going to take you on with off markets if you wont show your loyalty to them working on the regular inventory also.