I don't think you would go wrong with any of the large players. 

We are not only competing with American investors but people around the world. 

You’re competing with a Lot of local flippers/wannabes who are operating on thinner margins than before, they know the local neighborhoods, suppliers, subs, etc.

@Natalie Kolodij gave some great advice, and I recommend checking with a competent local professional for anything to do with taxes/legal issues. 

I would recommend that you do an analysis of competing centers in your area.

Personally, I want a competent attorney representing me in either case.The main point of my post is that the creditor should understand and participate in the process in order to get a better outcome.

In the end, I got a great deal and built a ton of equity but if I could go back even if it meant paying an extra 10k in rehab costs I would have just found a competent GC to deal with everything.

Again, they do great work, but is it possible to find a competent tax advisor who also does great work and who charges what I would consider to be a more reasonable (in my eyes) fee?  

(or ask a good agent who knows all the players) Banks are very different, loan officers are very different.

For rentals I look mostly at cap rate as that to me is the best apples to apples comparison, I know what the big players look for in the area and can gain some knowledge from there.