I always prefer to call first if a phone number is available.

Ervin, Most lenders would prefer you have some skin in the game. 

It doesn't give me the option of analyzing a partnership based on different equity splits and preferred returns, etc.

Lenders prefer not to cross collateralize a deal.  

I've heard that a lot of "wholesalers" bring buyers these awful deals that you can't make money on, and supposedly those are the ones who leave a bad taste in people's mouths.

I would prefer not to do a hard pull on my credit.  

I prefer not to because of the following:We have 60 some rentals and it would get spendy.They are not my employees.  

Preferably make sure they are independent and not working for a large realty company. 

Finally, the strategy of turning your primary into a rental and purchasing another primary works best when the market is tanking, not when it is hot ... then in 2 years and change if/when the market recovers, you can sell your 1st tax free, or keep as a rental if you prefer at that time ... buy low, then sell high rather than sell high, buy high (or sell low, buy low) like most people do. 

There's also Matt Griffith of Griffith Law and his team (they host the monthly INREIA meetings), I know a great out of state CPA, but if you're looking locally, I recommend you reach out to Kelley Hardesty Smith & Cothanks for the tip, alain. i don't care too much about local or not, though i suppose there's a slight preference towards local in the case of a jump ball, so please feel free to message me or post here w their info. i'll chat w matt in the next few weeks then as i'll be heading to one of the meets here soon.thanks!