First of all I want to thank all of you who don't have any financial ties to me who seem to care more the bank who stands to lose 75K or more.

Sometimes it depends on financing, and how much cash I want to tie up.

I would take a shot based on no long term contracts tying me up if they're flakes, one deal at a time, and no upfront money because that's their real business.Personally I would get the full name and info on each of them and check out and their last 10 deals if they are legit, plus since the only real thing they are bringing to the table is the funding for a double close and you don't say if the 50/50 is after they charge for the money in points and interest, in which case your paying through the nose for money.

If there comes a time in your life when you feel like you have too much money tied up in your house, sell it, and buy a cheaper one.

That's a long time to have $200k+ tied up for such small returns.If debt is not calculated yet in that expense list, then you'd have to hold this alot longer just to get into positive return areas.

Obviously they are going to have to really want the house to tie up the money in escrow with a non-refundable deposit.

How does one build a rental portfolio of say 30+ properties without tieing up your own money in the process?

If you don't want to tie up someones propety, and an option agreement is not an option.Can you have the seller sign a purchase agreement, and write in the agreement that the contract begins on date of latest signature or something to that effect?

There are some great tie-ins as a RE investor and an electrical contractor.

If my money is tied up I start going down the list.