The savings from either will be many times the cost of the lawyer.  

The overall LTV (including all 3 mortgages) will be key and your selling point will need to be that the 2nd mortgage ($8k) will burn off in 2.5 years (based on your surprise that it was even out there, I'd recommend that you follow up in 2.5 years and ensure that it's been satisified, so that it doesn't surprise you again in the future).Does the $8k grant vest over the 5 years? 

What are the biggest challenges people have faced with this.

These are all services that investors and homeowners will and do pay for so you're on the right track.

If you are just looking to network I would go the route of meetups locally (you can check above at the toolbar, hoover over forums then to the right you have events and meetups.If you are looking to wholesale and build a list of buyers that fix and flip for deals you may have then I would pull lists from 3rd party sites like Property Radar or propstream.

All of the smell was in the wood floors, original from 1928.

A landlord looks a t how much the property will make long term.A flipper looks at how much in a short term .

The insights I’ve gained so far have been invaluable, and I’m eager to expand my network and grow alongside other professionals in the field.

Have 3 loans to refinance in the next few years and DSCR's are added to the option list.

The property was on the market and went into escrow 2 other times.