You can have as many credit inquiries as you like in a 14 day period as long as they are MORTGAGE related. 

Period.

In your experience, has some been more efficient than others?

is there a period of time I have to wait before I do so?

I am in several note-lending opportunities currently.Advantages = Scalability, economy of scale discounts, lower property management rates, easier to maintain than small multi-family, the more units, the safer and more efficient the project (in our opinion) We usually deal with 100 units + on each project, rarely exceeding 350 units.Disadvantages = deal flow (hard to find properties in the domestic US with solid cap rates) We're shifting focus more heavily to Puerto Rico and the opportunities it currently presents.

I have had a few interesting conversations with 2-3 people in my circle of influence that want to participate in REI, specifically my recent success, but they are both gun-shy in committing to any specific "complex" real estate deal, and have sub-$5,000 amounts they are wanting to commit.Without getting too much into the minutia of their mindsets and arguments, it is important to note that they are willing to give a much smaller amount of money for advertising and, in return, are expecting a faster, albeit, higher risk return through wholesale deals obtained during that time frame.My actual question for you is: have you ever structured any kind of private funding "deal" that officially goes towards your marketing in exchange for a piece of the net profits for (insert time period)?

That is all you will be paid, period, and you will be responsible to pay the other $5000 to replace the roof.If it's a replacement policy, you'll get paid the $5000 minus the deductible up front, and when the roof is replaced the insurance company will pay the other $5000.So replacement policies obviously cost more since the insurance company is willing to pay more.

My focus is on decreasing maintenance, improving efficiencies and maximizing income on my existing investments.

So, for example, if I wanted to make it as simple as possible meaning no balloon and no down, would this situation make sense:I purchase at $38000I set repayment period at 5 years based on a 50k future assumed price.I set an interest rate of 10 percent (these are all just hypothetical mind you)50/5 = 10k a year in payments from tenant10k @10 percent interest makes it 11k a year in payment11k/12 months = 917 a month So after 5 years, the house is theirs and I have made 17k (minus associated costs).

I also think that you need to decide if you plan on buying and holding the SFH's for a long period of time.