Let me paraphrase your question:  "how can I have years of deal making experience implanted in my brain when I have none now to go solo on a sophisticated strategy for buying an income property with some advice along the way and having it be a success." 

Lenders perception- Lenders don't have perception.  

Actually, I think you hit it right on the head with this one, we are not Detroit, we are CLE "Cleveland" Our housing stock and rental market is lush with fruitful inventory, we have been a workhorse during tough times and a stallion during good times, I recommend checking out some of my other posts about CLE, and I encourage you to come visit us, I assure you that you will develop a whole new perception of our great city and everything it has to offer.

They all just wanted to know how much they could get for their property.I’m sure distressed multi-family owners are out there when the market’s hot, but obviously they will be much farther and fewer between than distressed SFR owners, both because there are so many more SFR owners and because multi-family owners, in general, are more sophisticated real estate-wise than SFR owners, most of whom aren’t investors at all.Maybe I didn’t spend enough on marketing or didn’t know what I was doing or how to negotiate, but that was just my experience.

They range from very sophisticated professional real estate investors that own many properties all the way down to people that have local friends that help them locate properties.In some areas of Collin County, you might have 4% of homes in a neighborhood owned by Chinese investors.

The listing agent may offer a percentage of their 6% to the buyer's agent, if so, the buyer pays the difference to their buyer agent.I think people have a false perception that the seller pays all of the the real estate agent commissions.

Although the most sophisticated usually are both brokers/investors.

It all comes down to perception.

Sophisticated and seasoned investors interested in equity positions or greater returns on their investments will be interested in what we have going on.  

I amy be a bit biased, but after working with investors form all over the globe, the one thing I have learned is that the venture is largely hinged on the front end of the transaction that  utilizing a reliable higher local provider with sophisticated operations and systems not just plans of how they will help you acquire, repair and pas you along to a magnet company.