If its not someone you know the lender will dictate the terms.

Just keep in mind each persons situation is completely different and small things can make a big difference in rates, fee's points, terms, etc. 

Might be a diamond on the rough if you can fix it up and then long-term rent.

Purchase price: $189,000 Cash invested: $40,000 Mid-term rental property in a college town.

I said no but it maybe cost you 50 bucks a month other wise your tenant is paying off your principal and 3 to 5 years goes aweful quick then you own it free and clear and you just put 10% down and tenant paid of the rest what are you really going to do with 100 a month anyway... it was funny that was a hard sell. but I can tell you I did about 50 of the no interest and as they paid off you talk about a happy buyer getting their reconveyance deed in such a short amount of time.. 

BP has done such a great job of promoting SFR investing to the masses, that those masses have pushed up real estate prices to where it's now DIFFICULT to cashflow right away.Keep going, but understand you won't get rich in real estate overnight - it's a long-term wealth building strategy.For the short-term, recommend joining a few in-person investor meetings if possible, otherwise online ones.

Divide the long-term vision into manageable steps.

Looking for guidance on the best way to proceed going forward in terms of asset protection and how to structure all of this real estate… 

They said they'd accept a 6 month term instead, but they're not being very forthcoming about what their sales record has been (I asked for the last 12 months just to get an idea, but they ignored the question :( ) and I'm getting a not-so-great feeling about working with them....The home is 2-stories, attached garage, 4bd 3ba, 2269 sqft and sits on a corner lot with a huge backyard (lot is approx .13 acres or 5662.8 sqft).

Knowingly buying into the red just because of financing terms is a very unhealthy way to invest.