Sorry if this question has been asked or if it seem silly, but I read on the commercial real estate lending requirements and it seems lenders look at the investment return of the property itself to decide if they will lend or not.

I am still deciding on whether I want to buy properties to rent out or flip houses. 

Initially, almost everything went into the Donate and Invest compartments - he decided he wanted to buy a house by the time he was 10 and he was deeply interested in the food-bank and clothing donation boxes at the local supermarket.  

That's still illegal.Over time the "food industry" will eat its way up the "food chain" and take over the processed product categories one by one too, and for the same reasons.At a moments notice, if the federal government decides to play rough, all they have to do is pass some legislation (or just threaten) to revoke the charter of any bank that accepts money from any pot related bussiness. 

This is where "investor friendly" really means something in deciding which title company to use. 

I have not decided that I want to start a note business, but only want to invest in notes.

I was recently laid off from my job and decided why not now.

I am brand new to all of this but ive decided im finally going to pull the trigger and do my first flip.

Decide how much money you have access to, & the zip codes, city or state you want to focus on.

When you know the facts (like if this is a good investment or not, if it would cashflow, what is the best strategy to use in such a case) you will be in a better position to decide if you even want these properties.I would also recommend you, or your family members, read @Mindy Jensen's book about selling a home, available on Bigger Pockets. https://www.amazon.com/Mindy-Jensen/e/B078NHMXVTGood luck!