In my humble opinion, if you want low, competitive rates, fast closings and great service, work with a broker.I'm also an investor and have been on the other side of the table. 

This site has been instrumental in getting me from 0 properties to where I am today. 

Of course, if one wants to know which is which, just ask the syndicator if they were the day-to-day sole decision making operator who interacted directly with the PM, lender etc.

Quote from @Noel Coleman: I walked a property today for a flip with a contractor who I really liked and he seemed like he is really knowledgeable.

With that being said, in a worst case scenario, you can always hire a property management company to handle the day to day items if it comes to that. 

Quote from @Timothy Lawrence: Hello All,Today is the day I decided to upgrade myself from being a lurker to being an actual poster.

However, San Diego is an extreme case.However rents increase fast in San Diego.  

These are also the banks that are more commonly relationship lenders and will allow your originations to out pace your balance sheet if you are consistently able to execute on the projects they fund for you.

I did not do computer time today. 

They also appreciate honesty and transparency so they can make decisions fast without any surprises.Some of the top skills that you can focus on are:Comping: Knowing your comps inside out is a must.Negotiation: Being able to connect with sellers and strike a good deal is huge.Networking: Relationships with buyers, agents, and other wholesalers are invaluable.Also, Get to know your local market being able to talk the talk in your area will help a lot.