Any other costs that you are now responsible for as a homeowner take you above what you're currently paying in rent. 

Lenders are responsible for their actions, title company's are responsible for their actions, escrow company's are responsible for their actions and doc prep company's are responsible for their actions. 

I then asked him how real estate investing could help and that I know people that are making fortunes and paying little taxes (hoping he would offer some advice), and his answer was laughable, he somehow tried justifying that stroking a check for $400k in taxes is better than real estate investing and this was his response...

Jeremy was very responsive and helped me get proof of funds. 

He disclaims responsibility for virtually everything. 

Just getting home from work now so I apologize for the delayed response.

I am actually extremely excited to ready your response at it is exactly what I went and did. 

The response from the seller's agent came in as a text at 5:29 pm last night when the offer was set to expire at 5:30.

I appreciate the quick responses and feedback.

You wont know until you ask.As far as the hard money lenders (similar but not the same as private lenders), there are several listed here in the Bigger Pockets under the tab "Tools" in the option labeled "Hard Money Lenders".Some of the previous responses gave you some very good options.