Does anyone have recommendations of real estate syndication firms they've used?

Yes people lose it all, typically because of over leverage or crazy events like 2008 - but if you also have cash reserves you can offset any downside to minimize risk even moreWhen people start using lines of credit and seller financing at 90-100% you are correct those people have a very high chance of losing it all.

If most houses sell for $1m, and the high end for certain properties is $2.5m....I don't think I'd waste my time with a seller who wants half a million dollars more than the highest properties in the area.

Unless you are in one of the exceptional markets with a 1 of a kind property I would recommend doing any flip that remotely approaches 70% LTV, I am seeing a lot of 60% LTV projects, those investors with make money. 

I have two 1/1s in a high cost mountain resort area, and they have rented out just fine to the right guest profile.

Hello investors, I’m new to wholesaling and was wondering if someone could hook me up with a contract outline that is legal for Rochester use, I know the laws are a little iffy and have been having a hard time finding a valid mock up to work off, also any attorney recommendations?

BTW, I could post many more that are much harder hitting and include people that are not of my same political persuasion who  warn these advocates and politicians to not continue to go down the rent control path as the evidence is overwhelming that they only hurt the very people they claim to help.https://www.forbes.com/sites/brendarichardson/2023/03/23/nat...

This is a highly personal decision.

Some other investors recommend doing a 20-25 year amortization period on the loan which helps cash flow a ton.

However, I usually recommend adding a third entity to the structure, a so-called management entity ("Management Co"), an entity I think is often overlooked amongst investors.