My below recommendation is something I'd do only if I had these things in order...But what I would do is put that money into lead generation dollars through Google PPC to generate new seller leads.I'd then close these deals and either assign the contract to a cash buyer OR novate the property on the MLS with the help of a local agent.After that when you have some good coin in the bank you can explore more investment options at your disposal.And just so you know -- I consider myself someone very low on the industry totem pole due to my small amount of experience. 

As far as the sale of a property with a mortgage on it, that all gets sorted out at close. ie, you bring your money, the bank gets what they have coming, the realtor gets what they have coming (if there's one involved) and the seller gets the rest.

Unfortunately with those numbers it's tough to find a non-bank lender/financial institution that will lend.Usually loan minimums are $50K and the up to 75% LTV on purchase-money/70% LTV on cash-out refinancing, which basically means you need up 25-30% depending on the type of financing. 

It’s a one-time cost, easy to maintain, and shows you’re thoughtful about providing convenience for your guests without breaking the bank.

His bank was in a state like Indiana, while one of his companies is in Wyoming, and just all sorts of weird sketchy stuff that accumulated over the period working with him.

Get a bank statement to cross-reference their paychecks as most employers now direct deposit.You'll also see if they have a savings history or are living paycheck-to-paycheck.If they are not paying rent right now and have no savings, how well do you think they'll be able to adjust their budget, so they can pay rent on time?

The goal is to keep these for rentals.I currently own the land personally and am funding the builds with a combination of HELOC and cash - no bank debt tied to these properties specifically.

For the most part all you do is monitor your bank account.  

Your money is guaranteed by the bank. 

Belize is known for it's Banking and Offshore capabilities but, like most places that are "$ havens" the regular population is usually very poor.