Well there's a reason they screen their borrowers, secure their loans with a first position trust deed/mortgage and charge a small fortune to make such a loan.

I think what I need is to find a lender partner that will work with me to secure 3-5 properties over the next year. 

Invest in a security camera—we had a break-in where someone lived in the house for days and stole appliances, which insurance didn’t cover.

So it will add time, and then you have to cut up and throw out big boxes. 

That would allow you to dock their security deposit more than just for the prorated rent for those few days.

Can I use her security deposit to cover these legal fees I've incurred due to her not moving out?

I was throwing darts at where to start. 

Something almost always comes up and that helps you be realistic when evaluating deals, securing financing, etc. 

Being in control of the contract, understanding the market you're buying in, and securing the right  price are the foundations of a solid deal.

Some impressive features including extensive listing/syndication and state specific guidance provided such as max security deposit.RentRedi is a flat fee for the most part and has some cool features like pre-qualification and integration with QuickBooks.