Ian - do you have any recommendations for a good securities law attorney? 

Neal and Jean-Marc were supposed to secure construction funds.

@Chris Seveney @Nathan Gesner The owners offered to cancel their lease and return their security deposit in full.

Could any of you guide me on what I should do initially to secure financing?

Since they are responsible for maintaining the relationship with you after the transaction closes, this approach adds an extra layer of confidence and security to your investment. 

Security deposits have to be held in an escrow account disclosed to the real estate commission which requires a yearly report and all leases need to disclose your license information.

Large and national players may treat you and your property as just a number. 

So, your focus may need to pivot from high rental cash flow to little to no cash flow as a rental with an appreciation upside.I would recommend taking your $150K to $200K and securing a solid equity position in something that will cover its expenses and maybe provide a small cash flow, but then is poised to appreciate nicely over the course of the next several years. 

To combat this: market the property well, be transparent, secure a great flood insurance rate so a buyer can know the cost and be able to transfer the policy.5) no flood zone AE does nothing to rental rates6) if the insurance rate seems high then get a flood cert and maybe it will decrease.

They’re asset-based, meaning the loan is secured by the property itself, and they often have quicker approval times but higher interest rates (think 10–15%) and fees.