No independent living or nursing home capabilities. 

With private money you should make sure your capable of executing being the fact a traditional lender has guidelines and rules for each part of the process.

What type of vetting questions I should ask potential partners to make sure they are experienced and capable?

In that case, fight with them but understand, it’s something you got for free, so you’re not out money in that sense (on the garbage warranty) In the future, IF you plan to get home warranties, us your realtor to order one.

In the Los Angeles area, crews fighting the Bobcat fire in the Angeles National Forest says they are mostly focusing on mopping up and strengthening containment lines.

It's up to them as adults that are legally capable of renting a property to figure out how to divvy up their returned deposit.You'll probably want to double check with an attorney that knows your local landlord/tenant laws just to make sure there wasn't something in your lease or local laws that does entitle him to his security deposit. 

I know the pandemic has put a hold on a lot of networking capabilities.

I don't have a dog in the fight anymore as I am under a non-compete for management services but thought I would give you my input for what it is worth.

Even though that is a basic fiduciary duty, I see new agents fight more for the sale to close then for their clients best interests.

I've received several counter offers lately with this request, and then it's on me (as the buyer's agent) to explain to the buyer the risk involved and to verify that they are capable of closing in that scenario.