Hey BP Fam- What is the best hard money lender for someone who is new looking to fix/flip? 

Also file a complaint with the CFPB Submit a complaint | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov)Regarding do you have any legal action - you can prove you do not owe it but you will not get any compensation - courts have ruled long ago the only recourse you have is actual money you lost - there is no "pain and suffering" if a statement is incorrect and you have to fight with them on it.

Follow the money.

Personally, I would eat the money up front to get someone on schedule asap and work with either the bank or the seller for a credit at close.If there is roof damage, that would be an insurance claim on the current owner's policy. 

Would you lose a large chunk of money?

Only loan that would cover your rehab is an FHA 203K (primary residence loan) OR hard money fix and flip loan and you would have to refinance later.

.: Unfortunately STRs do not qualify for tax incentives. you will pay 33% income tax on earned income.

Now the county is threatening to take the General Contractor license unless the money is reimbursed 😳!  

Know of an efficient way to identify hard money lenders that will solely focus on an 80K loan against a property purchased at $256K with me bringing the rest of money to the closing table?

How would you structure a deal so that the private money could cover the down payment and fund the rehab in order to minimize money out of your pocket and being able to pay the private lender off when you refinance?