For the individual investor, you will need to sift through and find a few opportunities.   

I'd like to pop the top and expand the footprint of the studio and possibly add a 2nd bathroom in order to convert it into a 2bed/2bath with long term goal of selling it as a townhouse (all 3 units are already individually deeded, individually metered with gas and electric, have their own furnaces and water heaters, etc.).

I purchased land and subdivided the land into separate lots with individual addresses.

I saw a two individual houses on a single huge lot  in LA County.

Hard to say what a individual institution will consider but for th emost part th escore is th emajor deciding factor.

In the last couple of years, we changed our perspective on this, and now treat tenants with respect, and therefore have the right to demand the same from them.If they disrespect my property, then they have fooled me in our screening and such. 

@Dave Foster or others too, Back to the question of the 'partnership' part of things.....I think this is not allowed, but thought I would check before I throw the idea out the window ;-)Seller A wants to get rid of one of his individually held rentals so he can start to slow down.

Best regards, if note pays off early who ever orders payoff demand is going to have pulled title they will see your assignment and then will contact that bene and order a payoff.. they get their money you get the delta.. as your in second position basically.Now this is were it can get tricky if fraudsters get in this and don't record the assignments and the note holder who borrowed against it does not pay of  the underlying..

Even fewer understand real estate investing - and those agents are usually investors themselves who are busy finding their own deals.I would suggest trying to reach out to each individual listing agent for each property that you are interested in.

A private money lender is a private individual you know or have a relationship with such as a family member friend, business associate, dentist, doctor, etc and they are typically not licensed, they are not advertising or looking for you, you need to find them.