It sounds like a smart way to build equity and stay secure financially.

I’d appreciate some feedback on my current approach and advice if any.Here’s what I’ve done so far:Pre-Approval: I’ve secured a pre-approval amount and interest rate from an online mortgage lender.Property Analysis: I’m using the mortgage and STR calculators from BiggerPockets to assess the financials for potential properties.Neighborhood Research: I’ve been exploring different neighborhoods using Niche to get insights into schools, safety, and livability.AirDNA: I’m considering subscribing to AirDNA for data on occupancy rates and rental income estimates.Questions:Is AirDNA worth the investment for STR data?

The security deposit was $1,200, but here in Florida, attorney's fees and costs are recoverable to the prevailing party in cases concerning security deposits.

I would want my money to be secured by a promissory note and mortgage on the property in question, and thanks to the advice from some on here, if the property in question isn't enough to cover it, I would need to attach a lien to other property to ensure I can get my money back. 

Have all your ducks in a row so you can move quickly on securing the deal when you do find the right one that the numbers work on.

He sent me a contract which if I sign will pay him a fee of 3% of the money secured. 

Security deposit amountYou can find plenty of examples by searching for "tenant estoppel certificate doc" or exchanging "doc" with "pdf" for more options.Here is an example and explanation: Sample EstoppelSome have a lot of legal jargon but this document does not need to be so detailed.

for sure that is always an option, right now i want to connect with more actual private lenders that want to move their capital at 11% secured by real estate 

Non-recourse loans are typically more common with large-scale commercial projects or through institutional lenders, but most lenders prefer recourse loans where personal guarantees are required.The reason most loans are recourse is that it provides the lender with additional security.

I spoke to a gentleman yesterday who put 400K into a four unit in the city and his first tenant in the one unit bounced their first month's rent and security deposit checks.