If you can't see that, or want to try to just paint them all with a broad stroke of being lucky (and some of them were, no doubt) then I can't really help you out by sitting down and showing you examples as you are literally surrounded by them.Many ways to make returns in RE, cash flow being only one of them ... and no I'm not saying anyone should ignore that one, just consider it along with the others, over the entire lifetime of the investment ... this is sound practice in any market IMO.

To have a brokerage just for your own deals is not practical - unless you plan on doing 10 million dollars worth of volume every year!

However, with that same cash leveraged using hard money you can buy 4 flips simultaneously then you make $160,000 profit versus $50,000.

If it's the latter, what is common practice for interest rate returns on a private loan?

at 2.3% it's practically free money. 

He also suggested talking to a CPA who practices in both NY and VA.

Yes, screen all adults based on your standard screening practices.

But there might be a time when she comes the next day so I don't want them to start a load of laundry.I guess I could request this on a case by case basis, but would rather standardize and automate as much as possible so that things run smoothly with minimal input from me.What are your best practices regarding checkout instructions?

Louis since that's where I could get a lot of practice doing that, and a few have been purchased (and successful) on my recommendation. 

Whether it is by giving practical knowledge in real estate and business, providing an opportunity for someone or simply  helping someone believe in themselves and knowing they have the power to control their destiny (from personally having it "figured out" to being greatly lost and then again having laser focus) , the world will be changed by Andre Kratt being here."