Completely agree...though my big point was that if a company has been scamming people for 14 years, there would certainly be more information about it on the web...which there doesn't seem to be...

Accept a down payment, security deposit or application fee that are all non refundable?

Large security deposits required by utilities for commercial accounts

:)In all seriousness, you want to start asking your professional friends (high income earners such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc) and your older friends (those who might have retirement funds they aren't yet using), and see who is looking for a better return on the cash they have sitting around.Then pitch your *low-risk* opportunity (explain how it's secured by real estate worth a lot more than what you're borrowing) and see if they're interested.

Buy cash (not recommended), secure financing through a Commercial lender, get seller to carry financing, or buy subject too the existing mortgage.

And they're somewhat state specific because of certain statutes, such as CO detector requirements, lead paint disclosures, maximum time security deposit can be held, etc.

If you are trying to somehow secure capital you are putting into the deal you could mortgage the property where you are the lender and the borrower is the entity who owns the asset.

Many cities have web sites that they call assessor sites that show tax value and show history of sales.

Agreements with partners and working through potential securities issues9.

A quick look at the FEMA web page looks like it is in a flood zone (it appears to be in zone AE).