There just isn't fortune 500 companies that make their home in Phoenix and that relays to more of a up and down play of the long-term graph. 

Some sort of profit sharing arrangement with the investor so that your interests are alignedAll in all, I'd say it is a risky play, but in risk lies great returns.

If you believe you will need cash soon enough, then you want to put as little as possible, so that you can do more purchases to start building up your portfolio.If you believe you won't need the cash for the near future ... then put down 20% and avoid extra expenses ... such as PMI ... etc.My very first rentals, I bought them in class A, pure appreciation play, put 20% down.

Don't make demands with them or the third party.

We played with that idea but  we are doing an FHA mortgage After the house foundation is fixed.

This lot price seems way high for what the market demands [350k for a finished product].

Upon the sale of the property thatI hold the deed of trust, can I request a total of X+Y amounts of dollars on the payoff demand statement from escrow?

I will have to play the opposite side of the fence .

My personal opinion would be...advance to pay the taxes now, send him a demand letter giving him a couple of weeks or up to 30 days to pay you back.

Look forward to meeting you at  the meetup, and learning more about playing the CashFlow game.