What legal considerations should I keep in mind when formalizing their role in the deal-making process?

It's not likely to get better from here with this lender.You can make a formal complaint against the lender using this link: https://www.consumerfinance.go...

It doesn't have to be through a formal mentorship program, but it is always a good idea to have a mentor and surround yourself with investors who are more successful.  

You can give formal notice in writing to  visit the home and get the paint and drywall if she's being uncooperative.  

They still have to be evicted formally.

About 2 years into lending I had so many investors I needed to formalize the business and formed my first “fund”, whereby the investor were limited partners in a portfolio of hard money mortgage loans.  

And so as I moved on and owned RE brokerages I would give my starter agents listings I did not want or have the time to work so they got paid to learn and me as a coach.. so same thing today being on a formal team your handed leads..

This approach can sometimes help in reinforcing the original verbal agreement and moving towards a formal purchase agreement.Financing Options for Pre-Revenue Phase: Securing financing for a property intended to house a new business can be particularly tricky, especially when you anticipate a delay in generating revenue due to renovations and permitting.

However, title can be “clouded” many ways, including heirs who never registered their rightful interest (usually when someone dies without a will), spouses never formally divorced, common law marriage situations, children born out of wedlock, incorrect survey information, Sheriff and tax sales misidentifying multiple parcel situations, partial property rights transferred such as remainder estates, tax liens unrecorded, incorrect county identification due to changing county lines as when a river redirects, and of course plain old error in the property description copied onto the recorded warranty deed.  

It's awful when there is no recourse formally as he's just an individual and not a company with a reputation you could critique publicly online.If I were you I would look at your utilities.