.🔹 Partnering with Trusted Local Experts – Engaging experienced and reliable builders, architects, contractors, and surveyors is essential for a safe, efficient, and successful rebuilding process.Recovery isn’t just about getting back to where you were—it’s about creating something better.

My humble advice to anyone attempting to do creative finance is:Creative finance is for experienced investors who have access to capital if anything goes wrong.Learn the lawsDon't use a contract "off the internet", laws vary by state and are also regulated on a federal levelLearn the financing techniques correctlyDon’t skip parts of the processDon’t ever do a “kitchen table” closingUse the proper deedAn attorney can help you with the legal work, but the rest you are on your ownYour guru will not bail you out“Investing” in someone else’s deal by providing a small 2nd loan so the “investor” can pay for “cash to the seller” and for “closing costs” so he can do the deal is a very bad planKnow what problems can ariseLearn the responses and solutions to problems before they are neededKnow everything there is to know about Title and what that meansKnow who a "protected class" individual isLearn the "back doors"Learn human natureUnderstand timelinesUnderstand regulation enforcement (some of these "mistakes" have a 10 year statue of limitations ( they can charge you 10 years AFTER you do the transaction) and carry hefty fines and possible imprisonmentThe court doesn't accept "I didn't know" for an answer"Know that the source of the lead plays a serious role in some states and federallyKnow how much of a "profit" pushes the boundaries to invite an investigationYou can be sued by the seller if you don’t do things correctlyYou are automatically at fault if an investigator or attorney or regulator gets involved.

Also, the tax benefits you expect might be over-hyped: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/1075919-five-...Figuring our whether there is a useful tax strategy in your situation would take a one-on-one consultation with an experienced tax strategist, and here is how to find one: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/1222774-expla... 

Any guidance from experienced investors, real estate professionals, or anyone who has faced a similar situation would be greatly appreciated. 

“Money goes where money is treated best.”Your future ability to attain and maintain financial freedom depends on the city where you invest.Investment TeamAn essential location selection criterion is an experienced local investment team.

For example, your market is experiencing vacancies at 5% or 7%..

These successful managers are highly experienced and manage a large number of properties.ConsiderationsLocation is the most important investment decision you will make.

The requirement to do this generally involves an experienced GC signing on the borrowing entity as a 20+% owner thus making them a signatory on the loan and responsible for the debt which in most cases is not very easy to find.

Also, I would check reviews and previous sales experience. 

Quote from @Tod DuBois: Another Furnished Finder POT cancelled on me after I went out of my way and paid to review them on Key Check and signed up for Key Check contracts, made two contracts, allowed a pet and still, two days before the check-in, they did not sign.