The only way to do it well is to learn how to do it near you first so you understand who the players are.

Maybe some of it is seasonal, the last several summers have been red-hot. 

@Greggory KowalkowskiAirDNA is the big player in that space.

In the case of Yield Street there were many red flags way before the SEC investigation ever started.

The number of IPOs has dropped by half over the last 20 years; industries such as airlines, banking and social media are dominated by just a few major players.

I've found it difficult to connect with real estate players when everything is closed and locked down.

It seems like the bureaucracy and box checking for a loan like that would be a huge red flag for a seller.

It just means they are getting paid to say nice things, so be sure and ask if someone is getting paid for referrals or endorsement and not disclosing it is a serious red flag on the poster or reference and the company. 

Desperate or less-than-great realtors will not ask for that preapproval letter, which is a big red flag IMO.There are some great strategies for house hacking, and using your VA entitlement twice (yes twice) plus FHA can get you up to 12 doors in 3 years, and possibly more with value add situations and Conventional refinance opportunities. 

After 2 years of getting our numbers in order to qualify for a HELOC (as self-employed are the red-headed step-children of finance apparently), this virus sent everything into a tizzy!