You certainly 'can' work directly with the builder, but you will NOT save any money by doing so.

I actually don't like middleman banks almost as much as I don't like middleman property managers. lolIn this day in age, I should be able to have access to my money whenever I want, without jumping through hoops: two-factor authentication, giving my SSN, DOB, address, verifying over the phone, etc.

If this is a commercial/hard money lender, this does not exist.

An agent would lose a couple grand servicing the property at that rate.

Two years ago, it was higher and sellers wanted money hard day 1 in a lot of markets.I would ask brokers and property management companies and attorneys in the marketGood Luck!

The remote controls are just like the TV remotes and tenants break them and lose them and there are no replacements at times.

If there happens to be such a law demand the money be placed in a high yield bank account where you get 100% of the interest.

By the time I run my numbers on Smartland properties every single one of them loses money. 

Which seems strange why they would tie up money but nowadays the scams are pretty creative.

I've put 90% of my money in other investments.