At the second stage it's more of a double check of what the originator did, ratios, docs are complete, no real brain damage as initially the files are reviewed by assistants, then the file is passed off to the underwriter with loan authority, they make the decision if the loan will be made or purchased.The originating office is basically selling the loan to a wholesaler, while the have different motivations, each wants to make money and they need to operate on the same page.

You're the brains, they're the funds.  

It doesn't always have to be negotiated through hours of brain damage, it's either a deal or it's not. :)    

What an amazing amount of brain storming and info.

This isn't brain surgery and it is not difficult to calculate the cash flow the way I do it.

Never to allow someone else to substitute for your brain.

My brain always seems to go to places that tend to be frightening when it comes to artificial intelligence, though.While I could imagine all the amazing positive possibilities of this technology (think Watson as a replacement for Google or as a means to organize and understand massive quantities of data that we currently can't do), my mind always goes the direction of T2, AI, and all the other sci-fi films . . .Of course, many of the sci-fi technologies from our past are now part of our lives.....So, I wanted to ask everyone about their thoughts.

Armed with that, lots of energy & motivation, an amazing relationship with my wife who's also very interested in the subject, and a powerful brain (I had median PhD income when I was 19 with a 2 year community college degree) - can someone honestly tell me if I have a shot at achieving financial independance in Real Estate within 2 years?

So give your brain a rest and struggle no more.

Offer to take them to lunch or coffee and pick their brain about the area that the property is that you are interested in as well as what they would use for the CAP rate if they were going to review the property for lending purposes.