Credit history is flawless - mortgages paid off, solid history of paying credit cards with no late payments, no late charge-offs, nothing negative at all. 

Anytime someone wants money up front to look for a loan for you or to "get" a loan, walk away.Some will have you send a check or credit card for a small amount and then hack that account and drain it.Others will get personal ID from you on an application form and set up a fake account and use Identity theft to steal money in your name.And still others will take a small fee up front, then say they need more for the next step then they need a large amount to fund and then once you've given them that you can never reach them again.Plenty has been written on BP by people's bad experiences.

I created a bank account and opened a credit card to be used specifically for collecting rent and paying expenses related to the property (although I will need to use personal funds to pay for expenses until the property collects enough rent to sustain itself).  

If that comes up, I would very nicely explain that paying late will affect any referral he tries to get from you down the road and, you can always play the card...

1.Subscribe to the BiggerPockets Money and Rookie Podcasts2.Attend the FREE WEBINARS3.Attend a Meetup in Your Area / virtual meet ups4.Purchase the Beginner Books: How to Invest in Real Estate, Set for Life, The House Hacking Strategy5.Peruse the forums!

That’s a rookie mistake you want short lease terms not long ones !

Off market, built a relationship with the owner after sending him a card.

I tend to think that it was very helpfull to me at the time to have done it that way .Put ALL the CARDS on the table , Ask Opinions ,Get some advice ,I really believe it gave all involved a better understanding on HOW MUCH my Financial Position had improved year to year .It actually ended up over the years that I did 1 partnership with the Banker and 2 with the Lawyer .I also guess that being a member of the Planning and Zoning commission did NOT hurt things either .

At Christmas time everyone gets something and a card.

However, if it is similar you can have problems, as well as if your name is misleading and you won't find that out until you may have incurred some real expenses with letterhead, business cards, accounts, etc.Problem, if you have Trust in your name, expect regulators to knock on your door in the future, guaranteed!