Private Money How did you add value to the deal?

Sounds like this is a private money lender or a hard money lender.If you are getting funds from another source and relying on that to close, you should not put in the purchase agreement that you are buying with cash.

If the cash-out refinance option isn’t providing enough liquidity, you could also consider a hard money loan, though these tend to come with higher interest rates and shorter terms.

This way you learn and make a return on your money.

We plan to spend the next 6-12 months continuing to earn and save, as well as nail down a final market we want to househack in.

This money is still owed by the tenants and at times we were able to collect some of the money for the damages.Regarding installing a sprinkler system, it's only helpful if the tenants don't turn it off.

So think of it as the total cost of borrowing money. 

Value of time vs the value of money

I have a 401k/457 sitting there as stagnant money in NYC.

I really need to get my money back or pursue legal measures against BiggerPockets .Please advice  Sorry for the inconvenience.