@Mike Robb you would think with the money they charge people for very little benefit they could create an app.

This is the value of having someone who has local experience.The company you said, if they are some "remote" company, I guess they could provide the things that you need and save money, but I would hesitate to feel confident if they do not have regional experience and that you would be left vulnerable if issues arise with the design later on. 

As you may have found in your search, there are lenders that will lend up to 80% of the appraised value on investment properties and don't require an appraisal.Let me know if you'd like me to point you in the right direction.I have not; I'm still working on acquiring my next house hack, but when I need it, I'll probably use a combo of hard money and margin loan.

Is there anything I can do to recoup any of that money or am I SOL?

I purchase the property in the name of the LLC with a hard money lender and use the money partners money for the down payment and the repairs.4.

We're in the business to make money right?

If not and you wrote them the check, then most likely the $ is gone and suing for that money will cost you more than $1000 unfortunately.So cancel the agreement and request the funds

Your name and credit would stay with the existing note, which you would keep paying on - ideally yourself with money you receive from the "buyer", because if they don't pay your credit is wrecked and your house is in foreclosure.If you search on here you'll see everyone and their brother looking to do Subto and it's a nightmare unless the buyer has the funds to pay the note off if/when the original lender figures out you don't occupy the property any more and are attempting to do what you want to do, since most loans are going to specify that performance.  

If you are a partial owner of this land, I would not invest much or any money into it.

I’ve built a solid network of contractors, hard money lenders, conventional/DSCR lenders, and property management companies that serve as my trusted boots on the ground contacts in Memphis.