Also, I’m pretty new to this but I’m assuming you’d have to have an LLC in place to accept hard money or money from private lenders? 

Reading thru Vail Resorts annual report the other day and looks like they loose money. 

Just ask the owner what are you going to do with the money if you sell for cash??

Due to the confusion on their end and their slow response, it's costing me more money than if I just went directly with the vendor from the start.

The deal has to make sense and you really need to know the comps to make sure your investment is going to actually make money.

.#2  MINDSET:  Just like some people will NEVER become real estate investors regardless of time, money, related profession, - MOST people will never become real estate investors.   

If you have no idea what is going on with this capital call, then the bias should be "no" until you understand what is going on and believe that is the best possible use of your hard earned cash.

The six month cd isn’t the point my understanding is that I can’t just take out the HELOC, I need to actually use the money for my plan to work and a short term CD seemed safe and reasonable 

The math for investing was pretty obvious to everybody that it would be hard to lose money by buying a home for 50% to 70% of the rebuild cost.

Even the funding alone is easier since you now have a cash flowing property that can help you fund your seed money faster.