I'm in the Seattle area.Isn't it the escrow agent's role to make sure the terms of the contract are met on both ends?

Not sure why but maybe 5he type of loan plays a role.

The length of the loan, the interest rate you're charging, and of course the loan to value of the asset will all play a role in the price you get for the note when it comes time to sell.

Basically I'm unhappy in my current position and I want to start the transition out of being a day to day accountant and into a more real estate focused role.

Having them being hands on will complicate things, make roles as clear as possible. 

I would write the partnership agreement soon to establish roles now.Would it matter that your brother has 15% if you figure he won’t be an active participant?

There are a lot of roles like this, but it will depend on what you need to make in W2 earnings to live off of.  

If so, what factors played a role in your decision?

This worked out for me better than I could have expected as more deals are in the pipeline and I can continue to do the role but learn other aspects of syndication.

It sounds cheesy, but the best way to prepare is to work with a friend or two and role play.