The tax structuring is better, the flexibility is higher, and the ongoing fees are much lower.

Each of these require some flexibility, but I've found (with the first two at least) that I needed to force my breaking point.

It seems to me there is a speed and flexibility versus diligence tradeoff and that some companies are better served going it alone and others and better served with the intermediary.

The stuff is sooo flexible and easy to use/install.

This means being flexible and changing with the market.

Set 30 year am and just pay more to principal and you will pay the loan down just as fast but not be obligated to do so.This is important because if you incur evictions,heavy repairs,etc. one month you want the flexibility of low debt service.This is the same principal with a 15 year mortgage versus a 30 year.Take the 30 year with lower payments and just make extra payments to principal over time.

My preference is to defer the first $17k and then forgo the next W2 tranche (the up to $49kish) to maintain flexibility with how I want to take the distributions.

I especially like this from the HUD strategic plan: "new business model that creates more flexibility to provide greater choice for renters and attracts private capital to increase the number of affordable rental homes"To me that sounds like a move away from the current policy of discrimination against investors.

Any week of your choice in the summer, I'm flexible.

Ken - Best source for these types of loans (equity loans with flexible payments options) is going to be a small, local bank, a Credit Union bank or a Co-Op bank such as a rural farmers bank.