My only theory is he wants our mortgage to look clean until he has the chance to sell it to a big bank (it's a small private lender), and he's only looking out for the company's interests. 

I dont know the price yet, but I want to get private money set up before then.

Private Lenders, Hard Money lenders, or doing a "cash rich" Partner that will make you be able to do your entire project. 

My SCORE mentor hooked me up with a group out of Jacksonville that does flips and after a great conversation they gave me the courage and motivation to jump in.

Examples: A guy with hotels who used business /personal credit cards for free flights, a guy doing private investing/hard money lending, and last month was a guy who told the story of a 12+ property deal spanning 2 states and 1 primary residence of the seller.  

also, do private lending and other passive investing while you grow your capital.also, with $$$ like that you are perpetuating the myth that everyone in the silicon valley/SF bay area makes BANK and saves $25K every 3 months.  

However, with the 3 private placement sponsors I have invested with in many deals (soon to be 5), there is an air of professionalism that is palpable.What is your experience?

I am looking at a property to rehab and cash-out refinance but would rather work with the SDIRA Checkbook LLC as a private/hard money lender instead of using a third party. 

Have a 'if you were in my shoes as an investor, what things would you keep in mind' sort of conversation, so you can get a sense as to whether or not you're on the same page and if this is someone you want to do business with...... 

For instance, there may be conversations of pest being found that don't make it into the minutes but could result in hefty extermination bills.