You can meet local investors by registering to attend real estate events in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-events-and-happenings6.

(My day job was and still is selling advertising for major events).

But this is an unpredictable one off event that comes about as auxiliary to one’s main activities.  

They spend a lot of time talking about more macro economic events and things that can affect real estate too which is interesting...or maybe boring to some!

I was also told by my cpa that transferring the property from the LLC to our personal names will trigger a tax event.

You may believe they amount to the same thing, but I assure you they're not.You didn't specify whether you're writing about homeowners' insurance or title insurance, but you should be able to purchase a binder for either that commits to issue a policy in the event you become the owner. 

I'd also definitely recommend going to as many networking events as you can.

Lease option in my opinion is just a gimmick to get your money and get you to his events.

In the event of some disaster, will they do a replacement cost for a 4/2 or 2/2?

Foreclosure like this, in either event, you are losing a limb (proverbially speaking of course), its just that with a DIL, its a below the knee amputation versus an above the knee amputation as it relates to the hit to your credit.