There are many kinds of hard money companies and individual lenders, there are no "standard" HMLs. 

If they are good, and they protect your asset, collect your rent and manage all of the Maintenance for a reasonable price they are worth it if you have a decent size portfolio. 1-5 units is manageable by an individual.

I know you mentioned duplex so one side can help pay your rent, but if you own a single family and rent out individual rooms, you can do just as well, or better, and have more options.I have a wife and daughter, and my wife isn't down with the idea, but when I was younger that is what I did and it paid for my housing and living all though college.

The partnership tax return will spit out a "K-1" that will then be used to incorporate into your individual return.

The property has 6 single bedroom units with electric heat individually metered. 

Individuals, families, businesses, and investors are looking to raise cash now.

There are similar characteristics of this event as 2008, except the government has done a bailout for individuals this time.  

At that point we would run the financials again to make sure that the individual tenant still qualifies for the unit without the income of the other tenant.

Individual landlords and real estate investors should also qualify in most cases.Loan amounts are up to $2 million (although some sources say it's a lot less), with up to $10k in an up-front loan advance for those who qualify.

I do showings open house style, when there is not a pandemic, so that I don't have to meet everyone individually.