If anyone can share the process/mechanics of the actual funding process including:1) Does private lender fund the project ahead of closing? 

My wife is an REO broker and she has not sold thousands (hundreds though :P) and I have seen all sorts of weird things, mechanic liens, 2nd and 3rd mortgages, multiple bankruptcies to re start the process.

I recently graduated college and started my career as a mechanical engineer and have recently decided that while I love my job I don't want to work for the rest of my life, and real estate investing makes the most sense to me in order to gain financial freedom before I turn 60.I have been reading a ton of real estate books and discovered the bigger pockets book on rental property investing which gave me a great introduction to all the topics and possibilities in real estate.

Not just the money that ends up being put into them but also, I run a restaurant full time (70+ hours a week) and then do the REI on the side, so Idon't have time to work on my own vehicle or have it going back to the mechanics much since I need my vehicle all the time!

Just a quick update leading into the weekend for our 3-family flip in New Britain, CT:The mechanical and plumbing work is completed (draw #1) and has been disbursed by our HML.

Unless there's a reason to go 203 K I'd look at a different funding mechanism. 

The way he arranged it might have even included some other mechanisms but I can't remember (life insurance, ira, annuity?)... 

Are all of the mechanicals working properly?

My old employer 401k doesn’t have the mechanism for real estate investing so I have to use a sdira.

It's a lot like a mechanic...if they are fair, can do good work quickly, can make professional recommendations....that would sound like a good fit to me.