I chose the secure path years ago concentrating on my career in the Oil & Gas business while raising my children with intentions on picking it up again later in my career.

Closed on one of the nicest houses I've ever picked up before and listed it right away.

If you'd be willing, I'd love to be able to pick your brain sometime once I am able to hold up my end of the conversation.

To answer your question, there are several nationwide lenders you can pick from, but what is the point of having a banker when you don't know what you'll be using the money for?

My advice-and what I personally do-is find out what they focus on and A) pick a different niche B) if I get deals with their criteria, use them for help/partnership.There's no shortage of deals if you market to the right people.

Go to your property, pick up the tools, inspect that he actually did the work and check against the receipts he gives you.  

Two things stick out to me most about this; one being that everyone starts somewhere, even @Elizabeth Colegrove, she had to have her first rental and she probably didn't really know all that much about it when she started but she picked things up as she went and probably read a lot of information here on BP.

I purchased that one already rehabbed and with a tenant in place. 1 1/2 years later I still had the tenant and they recently moved in to one I picked up for 10k and put 3,500 in to.

Not ideal, but did the job for now.I'll ask around here (NJ) on the contractor partner approach and see if anyone is using this angle to pick their brains as well.

If a buyer has an opportunity to come along now and pick colors of anything, or flooring types etc., then show the picture of the house and say Almost ready to move in...come choose your finishes and less make a deal!"