However, it came with a pretty good sized lot (approximately 100' X 150')However the lot grows grass, and grass has to be mowed (city ordinance).It's worth mentioning that I don't think the extra lot adds any value to the tenants as it is separated by a small chain link.

Jason, others may have had a different experience but in my personal experience hard money lending is - like much of business - built on personal relationships.I would recommend you start going to a local REIA such as the RI Real Estate Investors Group (rireig.com) or Black Diamond REI (BlackDiamondREI.com) and network, maybe identify a few promising folks, take them out to coffee or a meal, etc. and just look to start building a few relationships and identifying good prospects.Then when you have a deal you're looking for a lender on, you'll have a few people to start asking and maybe if they don't know someone they can recommend you to someone else in the group (one of their contacts).People are much more comfortable recommending people they already know and have "vetted" as having a minimum amount of knowledge, so that's what you'll really be trying to do - establish that you've educated yourself, didn't just get out of your first seminar last weekend, are committed to real estate beyond this year, etc.All that said, if you think you really have a good deal and have a compelling case to make to a lender*, by all means announce it at one or more local REIA meetings and you may end up making a connection right away.But if you don't already have a good deal & value proposition for a lender then I'd say go the long-game, relationship-building route.

I figure this is about $10,000 worth of "improvements" and a 4 foot chain link fence. 

I saw this part of the chain and I thought I would chime in.

You might notice a Starbucks, notice chain link fences, notice a new subdivision, notice a check-cashing place, etc. 

He has a pretty well established presence on these forums and would be one of the better people on this response chain to point you in the right direction.

Understand the clauses you need to put in your contract and what you have to do;make sure you get a deed signed and put into escrow - you don't want to chase the seller when it is time to closemake sure the payments are being made - you should make them as the management companysign a management agreement so that the lender does not call the loando a lien report to make sure there are no outstanding liens or judgments on the chain of titlebe careful a subject-to can be risky if you don't know what you are doing

I do, however, make sure to close at a title company so I make sure I'm getting a free and clear property.Though honestly in the future with block chain type tech there is no reason I couldn't just transfer "funds" via blockchain and receive title the same way.

Outside you'll find a three seasons porch and patio overlooking the yard with chain link fence and mature trees that provide beautiful views in autumn and wonderful cooling shade in summer.

If you manage your own properties, it is like a 'ball and chain.'