@Scott MacI get your just thinking out loud but there was very limited impact to any homes and the only apt that was torched was one under construction and vulnerable so your view/understanding from 1,135 miles away isn't a very good one. 

Your best bet would be to start calling local banks and credit unions and find some that will do this loan in your area.An ARM leaves you vulnerable to future rate hikes that may hurt your cash flow. 

I feel as if this could be a low risk opportunity to get my feet wet in the business without putting myself in such financial vulnerability.

The short answer is that its complicated and there is no "one size fits all" answer for the entire state; some municipalities are more vulnerable than others.

His rationale in requiring more security is that the value of a storage facility is so heavily based on income and banks are known to run them into the ground during and after foreclosure so his second position would become vulnerable--not that either of us actually anticipate a foreclosure.

You will attract as friends those who are like yourself."...Meet my friend Ryan, he is super good at finding people who are ignorant and vulnerable and capitalizing.

I got a lot of opinions, but no one willing to be vulnerable. 

People use this website and forums so they can be "vulnerable" if you will.

I know that many people are fairly vulnerable to a bubble bursting and will not have the available capital to move ahead.

@Mike RuangutaiWelcome to BP.I would suggest that not knowing and area, not knowing the people, and, by your own admission, not having much real estate experience could put you in a very vulnerable position.Start by figuring out what you do know or are skilled at and leverage that.