Im guessing the private lender will have his bank wire money to title company and the attorney will write up a promissory note.

I treat it like a business using separate bank and keeping receipts.

Fill out the doc and meet seller at a bank to sign and notary.

I'm doing the old "Did I do better than if I'd left the money in the bank" calculation and I want to run my calculation by a few of you to be sure I'm good.Building 1: 11 unit, held 7 yearsPurchase price: $180,000CAPEX  $75,000 (mostly first year, but some throughout.

We bought an REO and the bank had winterized it, but it had sat vacant and had frozen pipes before that.

I assume we should go to a bank to get pre-approval before we pursue a deal? 

Unless you have other source of income or large savings will be very difficult to invest in Real Estate..Banks will not lend to you and if you Partner up with someone what do you have to offer?

I am a little confused, the homes on Zillow that are either in "pre foreclosure" or "foreclosure" state that they are NOT on the MLS and that they are usually bank owned.

You can broaden your search to real estate investment firms and investment banks, as well PE - that should open some more opportunities. 

If a family member or hard money lender has the cash available to pay for the property up front and I structure a loan with them at say 8% 30 year fixed, is it possible to refinance with a bank in order to pay them back?