My initial thoughts, were to start looking at comps, in the area that are renting for the amount I would like to get.The place is in a good mixed neighborhood. 

I cannot advice about if you need LLC for private lending in the mix, but one thing I know is people involved in real estate private lending are very experienced in the real estate market they are dealing with and can see a good deal from bad deal miles away because of their experience.I own three single family rentals and don't have a LLC but considering it and have no experience dealing with or being a private lender.

I'm an investor by night and an agent by day (which helps me learn the trends of this area,) so I'm fortunate to have been able to learn a lot about these areas, so maybe I can help share both a bit of info mixed in with some personal opinions.First off, anything that's in Conejo-Moorpark-Simi area is not going to meet any BP rules of thumb for cash flow or flipping, unless you get some insane off-market deal.

I'm hoping Google expands their offices there and encourage more high-tech firms to join them -- that is what would REALLY jumpstart the metro-area economy.

I'm currently building a Mixed-Use project with 5 unit apartments and an office and my capital is all in on this.

It seems it would be rental property and income and expenses claimed onsch E (note I have never encountered this situation, nor did I research tax law to answer, just going on top of the head common sense mixed with other experience).

No prob- I have fortunately found a few really good ones in the mix as well   :)

Have you mixed in any flips into the equation?

But that is up to the broker.If the agent is doing any work, they are using the services of the brokerage for E&O insurance, MLS access, file processing, tech usage, office space, training at the office...

I know there are some paid services available for rent collection, that add some other benefits to the mix as well, but is there any simple service available to achive this?