Hello, I am new to Real Estate investing world, and have been educating myself since summer of last year, and been to only one local REI meeting and currently enrolled in a very good online course mostly on how to wholesale properties, but still have not pulled the trigger yet.

Finally after 10 weeks we've finished our remodel of one side of our duplex. 

Plus, having an unbiased third party inspect the property is invaluable.

But after that ... hell, move out and you've got a duplex in what otherwise would have been single-family zoning.As it used to be in Denver and Colorado Springs and most cities in the state, you could rent an ADU separately when you live there, but once you moved out, you legally could only rent the whole property to one party. 

They can help confirm which markets to invest in and which ones to avoid.

I see a lot of people say they want to go local, and while I understand the sentiment, one of the biggest myths I see perpetuated in lending, or insurance, or appraisers, etc. is that local is better. 

I sold one property just before interest rates went up, which worked out well for the sale price.

The master bath in one of our rentals only has a jacuzzi tub, no shower head at all (weird, I know!).

So, if things do go sideways, it's much harder to negotiate your way through.And, provided your loan is structured properly and closed with a competent title agent, I see no greater risk working with a private lender than with a traditional one.

I have some land behind one of our triplexes.