It seems more your fault for choosing the "lying" contractors from the tenants point of view, if you ask them to pay up, I'm sure they would.

Hey Jeff without knowing any details everything is what you are able negotiate. but you have to take in account the years interest rate and purchase price and what kind of cash flow.I will say get a mentor if you’re inexperienced these kind of deals can go left if you really have little knowledge when it comes to structure .

Combined that can cost $50k+ which they may not want to pay nor their is the possibility they would not they pass the DD report.Nothing wrong with raising money in this fashion (FB or online ads), many do it and are great sponsors. 

I wish you great fortune in 2025!

Many people don't buy because they are concerned about this and that.

Are there strategies, financing tips, or resources you’d recommend for someone in my position?

If you live there 2 years or more before selling you will be exempt from tax on the 1st $250k in profit which is a nice bonus. 

Looks like you have a ton of experience and will be a good asset to this group! 

We'd love to have you interview with us at Keller Williams.While I don't think any brokerage publishes numbers, I think we likely have more investor agents than any other company. 

Imagine you make $100k and you are affected by 3 tax brackets.0-33k =-33K 0%33,001-66k 10%66,001 - 100k 20%You can take $100k in deductions this year and pay zero taxes, for one year and then $10,100 for for 2 years  ($20,200 total)You can take 67k in deductions this year and pay zero taxes for a year, take 33k the second year and pay $6,800 year two and $10,100 year 3. ($16,900 total)You can take 33k each year and pay $3,300 in taxes all 3 years. ($9,900 total)Obviously this is simplified but unless you expect to make much less and be in a lower tax bracket in the future those deductions could come in handy.