Origination fees should be charged at the time of closing and subject to closing, not prior to.

Its best if the architect and GC have a prior working relationship so it will make your life easier.I could do a whole session on this but hopefully this gives you and others who read this some ideas to start with.

As a lender using cards is fine just make sure you have the funds seasoned (2+ billing cycles) in your account prior to engaging into a loan transaction because funds sourced from an unsecured source cannot be used as down payment or closing costs.

If the dynamic had been as simple as "you need an LLC" I would have gotten one for them, in fact Renovo pre-approved me but did require an LLC prior to closing, in Illinois can be done on line and I think it a 10min form to complete, $150 fee to expedite and I had my Articles of Incorporation the next day. 

I would recommend finding a few lenders that can lend to Canadian investors prior to getting into a deal, that way you don't run into any hurdles on the back end.

Prior to talking with an attorney..Do you already have a good understanding of what your GP/LP structure will be?

I don't have any prior professional experience.

Purchasing a fix and flip from a seller that had prior issues with GC and is concerned that GC may file a mechanic's lien on the property even after the property is sold to me.

Industry events, conferences, and online forums like SponsorNetwork can be a fantastic way for you to connect with experienced sponsors and investors.And don't be discouraged by a lack of prior deals.

I invested in the stock market prior.