You should always want to have the option to fall back on traditional financing. i hope this helps.

Traditionally So Cal is tough to beat for REI total return.  

Instead of renting it out the traditional way, I understand that converting a home into a group home or boarding care facility is very profitable. 

I think I am still a few years out, gathering more traditional properties and building equity in them that I can cash out before tackling one of these projects. 

Actually, I thought of going to a credit union but had been hearing about only the traditional way of private money or hard money lending.

In your case since your new just have a strong game plan and presentation to prove you know what your doing. 2 - Ensure them the process will be stress free and a smooth transition.3 - Quick and simple closing as opposed to the "nightmare" closings that traditional borrowers sometimes encounter.4 - Savings on Capital Gains5 - (In many cases they are older) I really push that the monthly payments are a nice gift to leave to their estate. 

This allowed me to put less than the traditional percent down on the house and provided me the funds necessary for a down payment.

My accountant was able to set up an online portal, so we use the traditional home computer version but access it online.Personally I think it is worth hiring a part time book keeper. 

If I had 20-30% to put down on a house id look at traditional financing but that's not the case.

Over the last two years I have bought and renovated two properties in a neighborhood in pittsburgh that has seen intense appreciation and have built up something like 225k in equity.My current high level financials are: Own two properties, both mortgaged and rentedConservative total market value of all properties: 550kCombined debt on properties: 325kTotal equity: 225kMonthly gross rental income: 3.4kMonthly net rental income: 1kI bought both properties on traditional non commercial mortgages and I have an 80k heloc alll factored into the combined debt number above.