Offerer wanted me to use their preferred lender for no reason, I went with my lender who had me preapproved.

If you are in Single Family Residential, and I am in Food Processing Industrial, sure as long as it doesn't bite me. 

Yes, $45K is plenty to invest into a SFR home or a (2-4 unit) preferably by living in one of the units. 

We considered forming an LLC and sharing capital that way, but we know that lenders prefer to loan to individuals rather than LLCs with no income.  

Unless you would prefer to pay them to move.....but I don't know why you would.....

A lien under this subchapter does not attach to:(1) wearing apparel;(2) tools, apparatus, and books of a trade or profession;(3) schoolbooks;(4) a family library;(5) family portraits and pictures;(6) one couch, two living room chairs, and a dining table and chairs;(7) beds and bedding;(8) kitchen furniture and utensils;(9) food and foodstuffs;(10) medicine and medical supplies;(11) one automobile and one truck;(12) agricultural implements;(13) children's toys not commonly used by adults;(14) goods that the landlord or the landlord's agent knows are owned by a person other than the tenant or an occupant of the residence; and(15) goods that the landlord or the landlord's agent knows are subject to a recorded chattel mortgage or financing agreement.

Some landlords prefer to engage more with their tenants, some even on a first name basis.

Hi Nicole-Do you have a preference for the type of investing you’re looking to do (flip, rental, etc)?

As first time STR investors, my wife and I are trying hard to nail down our CCCs before reaching out to a real estate agent in our preferred market.

Donr know anything about investing in larger things than 1-4 or commercial financing or anything-- But looking to expand my horizons and looking for like minded folks preferably locals but  obviously not necessarily.