- There are 5 ways you make money in REI that directly help you unlike S&P and REITs. 

They ask for upfront money something that I never done

As for your question on the hard money lenders - I don't think it matters how you source the equity for a deal, but it's more important how much equity/downpayment you can put down on a deal - i.e. 10%, 20%, 30%, etc...

I'm not looking to make quick money.

I'm looking to rent it out and rents in the area are $2,400-2,500/mo for a 3-bed/2-bath property like mine, especially on a waterway channel.The prior valuations have been $1.25 million in total but I've found from one lender that a valuation on a 6% cap rate may be the best way to give me the money I need to finish the project.

Hold people accountable, don't keep the same crew for every time, make sure money is being respected in the way you can control it and have your *** backed by the contracts you sign with these folks.

Longer-term money like that means you can be more patient without constantly hearing the tick-tick-tick of interest racking up on the pull from the HELOC.

It's never wise to invest with 100% borrowed money.

Curious on creative ways to fund a deal if you didn't have private money for the BRRR strategy. 

It seems like this is one of the biggest challenges for people in real estate.This will not be a popular post, but taking a course on raising money will not magically raise money for someone.