Looking at anything else will provide a false impression. 

I was under the impression that rates on portfolio or commercial loans were lower than hard money.

@Tiffany Bishop, I've been really impressed with John Edwards. 

The financial institution was so impressed we were concerned that they were taken care of, and that because of my banking experience I knew it didn't make sense for them they almost always take a second and third look at any deal we send to them and hear us out when we explain why it works for them. 

Wow; I’m thoroughly impressed!

I’m really impressed with the podcasts, and I’ve just finished reading Brandon Turner’s The Book On Rental Properties.

I was always under the impression as long as its paid off, it doesn't get counted. 

I was under the impression that many properties in the actual city of Cleveland are similiar to say, Detroit, meaning it is an area that obviously carries more risk tenant wise and is better suited for highly experienced investors.

They didn't go into low-level details, but they certainly gave me the impression that there was some sort of quid pro quo there.I'm not an attorney, and it was mentioned so casually that it makes me wonder if perhaps there is a workaround that they discovered that could be done legally.

My impression of this as a new investor is that, relationships are formed and nurtured by relatively consistent business transactions.