I then purchased different securities at the new firm.If I had held individual stocks at the old firm that I had wanted to keep at the new firm, I would have been able to transfer these stocks over as stocks without selling them (which I've also done in the past).

Apple just made a $38B tax payment in order to repatriate their cash held overseas.

This is crazy and doesn't make sense to me that we qualify for this refi on every aspect but can get held up for $1200 that i can't just pay now?

Just a warning though, in my area duplexes are often held extremely long and rarely sold, finding good duplex comps to compare is difficult in some areas.

We cannot legally, according to the company who held deed. cannot be in contact or on property until then.

I am assuming you are referring to it not being held as an LLC if it is a second home.  

You could add a clause in the agreement that $x will be held in escrow and paid to buyer if the property isn't handed over vacant. 

A fully open term, no standby fees for funds not drawn, interest reserve held during the course of construction.

I missed the 2018 Tax Sale and 2018 Assignment Sale that was held last week.

My lawyer has suggested each property be held within its own separate LLC to minimize risk to me in case of lawsuit for whatever reason (i.e. trip & fall etc..)The current owner, who lives in the area (but not in these properties), is paying respectively  $1,000/year per home.