or can I keep the entire plot, build the house, and then transfer it to the LLC without subdividing?

We are considering transferring it into our VA based LLC - of which we are all equal partners.

Forst off, you DO need a broker if you are going to lend, otherwise, you are likely in violation of state usury laws and other potential Federal laws.Bill mentioned being carfeul to stay within these laws and that is precisely the job of your broker, so YES, you need one as a lender or get your own broker's license.Secondly, if you come in not as a lender but an equity partner, then all these topics are null and void as you are not coming in as a lender but as a partner.

Where deed is transferred but existing financing stays in place.  

Although I understand that corporate real estate is so different from residential, I hope that some knowledge and skills are transferable and I can turbo charge and learn fast!

I have stellar credit and own my personal residence (valued approx $950k) free and clear, so it would be easy for me to get financing personally to purchase it and then transfer to LLC, but that sounds like that could be messy.

Nothing in Tampa, although I did consider investing there in recent years.One pain point is going to be doing a remote closing if you want to do that.For Florida you will need wet signed papers for part of the transaction (title transfer), so you'll need to get a US notarization from the embassy, and then physically mail stuff to the US (overnight air mail).

Apparently, in the distant past, sometimes people wouldn't actually transfer funds.

Person A did NOT file form 709 or pay any gift tax for the quit claim deed transfer.

It's a legal question, and you possibly need to transfer the title to the LLC and transfer the mortgage to the LLC.