They didn’t completely destroy the house, I did keep most of their security deposit and used it for the repairs, along with some of our own cash.

This could help secure a higher LTV while you build STR rental history.

He even tells us not to do business with seniors on Social Security or with newbies, but he has no qualms of ripping me off on Social Security and a newbie!

Do you have any suggestions on how we can secure long-term financing under these circumstances?

Keep in mind, though, that each lender has their own criteria for how much future potential they’ll factor in, so it might come down to some skillful negotiation and presenting detailed projections that don’t feel like puffery.Just be careful not to come off as overly speculative…lenders tendd to shy away from what sounds too good to be true.Anyway, I’m curious.. have you spotted any other investors in Gainesville facing a similar refinance puzzle and what kind of terms were they able to secure? 

A “syndication” is almost always a capital raise for the sale of a security/investment.  

Focus on areas with high tenant demand, solid cash flow, and potential for long-term appreciation, and you'll be on your way to securing a great investment.Good luck!

@Bob Asad at our bank, we have an escrow account for security deposits, it is set up with sub-accounts for each tenant with their security deposit amount and their SSN.

I completely agree with @Ashish Acharya's points about the cost-effectiveness of a HELOC and the potential credit implications if it’s secured by your primary residence.

We have emails, video conferences, secure portals etc etc.We do have a physical office, and half of our clients are local.