You should build relationships with hard money lenders and others beforehand, but with regards to a particular deal, you should contact the seller first.

Downsides: 1) You will have a continuing relationship with Seller.

On my out of state properties I pay a flat 10% and we've been able to build a strong and productive relationship.

Network and build relationships with other investors.

It is possible that you could hurt your relationship with the lender but there is no reason that the contract can not be assigned.  

The fall and spring conferences have more information going on concurrently that you will be overwhelmed with the information and relationships you can build.

I’m stepping out and going to my first Real Estate Meetup tonight, really looking to introduce myself to the community and begin building relationships.

I do not understand the relationship between tax returns, borrowing money from banks, and limiting the taxes you pay to the government.

(We're a correspondent lender for PenFed - a correspondent lending relationship is the middle ground between brokered and direct... their rates and their guidelines like a broker, but originate, underwrite, and fund, as a direct lender in-house)(No, I'm not allowed to share their guidelines, either)

In this type of relationship, what type of commission would go to me vs. my broker sponsor (I know this will vary a lot, I'm just looking for a ball park).