Your mortgage payments may be fixed, but your taxes and utilities will increase, your maintenance material costs and labor rates for repairs have gone up, and your property is wearing out (appliances, flooring, water heaters, furnaces, roof, etc. all have a lifespan and will eventually need replaced). 

We just helped a Florida client with a ballon coming due at the end of the year on a jumbo refi, the borrower had some payment shock so we structured a ten year interest only payment since they plan on relocating within the net 3-5 years.

Question: I was planning on closing the business. 

My plan will be to purchase a vacant land with cash and finance the home build through a private money loan.

Get one as you will receive stepped up basis for tax gain purposes.Next decide with your sister on the plan.  

Sounds like a plan.

I am planning on moving to the Tampa/St.

Here in Austin that does require a permit, but those can be obtained with the right planning. 

I live in NC, I'm 41, my wife is a high W2 earner, and we don't plan on touching this money for 12-15 years. 

My plan would be to stay with family in CA the 2-3 months I am back from work in the U.S. , and have the property 100% rented out for the year.