Here are a couple recent ones:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/587565-anyone-knows-james-mourine-or-mourine-jameshttps://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/49/topics/595905-lender-scam-warning-north-carolinaOn the other hand, if you do know the private lender well (friend/family member) then they're likely well-intentioned. 

Can anyone recommend a contractor who has or is working with investors/flippers. 

I am looking for 2-3 Investor Friendly Real Estate Agents in the Bay Area/ Silicon Valley.

To give an example of this guideline, hypothetically, one making 100k annual pre-tax income would only take out a loan of 200k.

Between the renter and my friend I am only paying around $300 for the mortgage.

I currently have a spouse and close friend who will be investing with me. 

Some guidelines to help are how much properties are selling per unit and what is the unit price vs rent.

New to investing and my first property is a triplex in Alamogordo NM that I bought from a friend for $50k(seller finance) who wants out of the real estate business.

I began to try to harness some of my "how to win friends and influence people" dogma and told him that I could possibly provide him with a completely passive income stream that would allow him to move to Florida without any of the active burden that landlording required.

We take a friendly approach but always let folks know up front, “we will evict you“ If uou dont pay rent.