You have a lender who doesn’t like doing a 293k......finding one who does them regularly is the key to getting one done.

THey were saying you pay a little money a month to have mail sent there and then forwarded to your regular address.

I have never collected cash, I even require security deposits to be submitted via the bank so there is a paper trail of everything (for them and me).

I have enough cash to buy a deal in the ~$200,000 range (as well as a small amount of regular dividend income) but would prefer not to use all my capital on one deal.

The trust rates were reduced slightly with the 2017 tax law, but not nearly as much as the corporate rates.2018 Estate and Trust Income Tax RatesIf taxable income is:                                The tax is:Not over $2,550                                       10% of taxable incomeOver $2,550 but not over $9,150          $255 plus 24% of the excess over $2,550Over $9,150 but not over $12,500        $1,839 plus 35% of the excess over $9,150Over $12,500                                            $3,011.50 plus 37% of the excess over $12,500Because of the new corporate tax rates, the use of a UBIT Blocker corporation may now make sense for those investors wishing to regularly engage in UBIT exposed activities such as house flipping. 

Firstly, on top of all of your regular due diligence with buying property, you'll need to decide if you're going to get a bank/finance company involved or is it solely going to be the seller providing all the financing.If you include the bank, you'll probably want to check with them in advance to see if they're ok with having the seller's mortgage behind them as they take rates and payments on the second mortgage into consideration for their approval.Once you and the seller both agree to terms, best to get lawyers involved who can draft up documents.

What type of security does typical hard money loaners require?

I am trying to secure funds for my first flip. 

Considering possible interior and exterior damage from the large dog of the remaining tenants, and other damage that may not become evident until prepping house for next tenant, how can we handle the refund of security deposit to MIL couple, since, per the text of the lease: “All Lessees are jointly, severally and individually bound by, and liable under, the terms and conditions of this Lease.”?

Adding to the shock was that he was using the shower and the projectile striking him wasn't the shower head, but the faucet to the tub"As the pictures will show, the faucet was not secured to the shower wall - which there was no way for us to know until the incident occurred - and the pipe connecting to it has a lot of dirt and build up.