I have a Bryant furnace roughly 40 yrs old, still working but sometimes it does not stop thru the thermostat control.

In general, if you're not an accredited investor, the syndicator should be vetting you to verify that if you lost your entire investment ($50K, which is typically the minimum) that it would not put you in a poor financial position. 

If so, the Association usually insures and controls the exterior of the building. 

Personally, I'd avoid that because it means high prices and huge HOA fees and you have no control over your revenue stream so this isn't the best way to get a great ROI.

I recently went through a divorce and lost my home and along with it the equity.

As I learn more about creative financing and other ways to fund a deal, I admit I’m lost in how one broaches this topic with someone.

He lost his job and my job being commission based has not been as financially stable as it has in the past.We currently rent in Brooklyn and owe an outstanding amount of $12,000 +.

., more than half of the calendar year) for the Borrower's personal use and enjoyment·The Borrower may rent the property on a short-term basis provided that the property is not subject to any rental pools or agreements that require the Borrower to rent the property, give a management company or entity control over the occupancy of the property, or involve revenue sharing between any owners and the developer or another party·The Mortgaged Premises must be in such a location to function reasonably as a second home·The second home must be suitable for year-round occupancy with the following exception: a second home with seasonal limitations on year-round occupancy (e.g., lack of winter accessibility) is eligible provided the appraiser includes at least one comparable sale with similar seasonal limitations to demonstrate the marketability of the subject property.

Before signing, they asked us to reduce the rent because they had lost their jobs due to Covid. 

I don't know as I have lost count!