LLC or Umbrella policy? financing?

[David Clark]

I have been researching how to finance my business for awhile and frankly I've come to a conclusion already, but I'd like some insight nonetheless. I plan to leave the area (VA) within the next year and a half (on military orders) and rent my house out. Now originally I wanted to start an LLC to do it under for liability purposes to protect myself and my assets, here's where my issues lie. Rather than have one property, I wanted to have at least two before I leave, but financing is hard to come by for an LLC, if not impossible. Not to mention all the fees associated with the LLC, and small business lawyer fees to accommodate. I figured I could transfer the title of the one I already own to the LLC and then do business that way, but I found out that the loan becomes "callable" at that point and I could have to pay the remainder of the loan in full if the lender so chooses. It is a VA loan I'm using, and it is not "Assumable" and even if it was I'm told the LLC would have to qualify for it and I would more than likely end up co-signing personally for it since I already have established credit. All of that would make using the LLC to acquire property strenuous and time consuming. So now I've considered doing everything in my name since I already have established credit and a great loan history, this would leave me without the safe haven of asset protection and personal liability that an LLC provides, but I could get an umbrella policy and have my properties insured up to one million dollars and protect myself that way. Eventually I want to grow my brand to the point where I don't just own a few houses, I want to venture into apartment complexes and neighborhoods, obviously if I get to that point, doing it all in my name wouldn't cut it. Is there a better way that I haven't explored?