The question I'm up against is what private money is going for these days for a build with this much room for upside.

Since my firm is an investor private client boutique, I do not share resources outside of my client base.

Some lenders offer creative solutions, like a cross-collateralized loan, where they use your existing equity as security without refinancing the duplex.Another idea is partnering with private lenders or exploring a second-position mortgage, depending on your lender's terms.

Many of the investors I know have dialed back on their private equity investment or have changed to doing debt instead of equity so it was not prime time.

Quote from @Michael Smythe: Besides MANY self-labeled "gurus" exaggerating their success, many of them just supply readily available info.If you're too busy to find the info and are willing to pay for it, no problem as you accept their time vs money solution.REGARDING S8 GURU ISSUES SPECIFICALLYMost of them don't share all the facts about how Section 8 actually works.They claim you can get HIGHER rent from S8 tenants vs private-paying tenants.Why would the government allow our tax dollars to be spent this way?

I’m currently working on a deal in Fort Lauderdale & actively looking for financing solutions like hard money or private lending.

I could never find anyone that had done business with them.I mean really anyone do no doc 5.75 % private money.. 

We use private lending to finance the purchase and construction of this home.

He has since refinanced and cashed me and my private lender out.

That is tight leverage for an investment 2nd position loan.A private investor might be willing to do it, it's not going to be cheap at all & will be short-term money & will not be a line of credit to take out at your liking.What is your rate on the 1st?