To build new, you lost 8 months of rent that covers your mortgage that you would have to cover on top of new construction cost.

Expect challenges of all kinds (delays, scope and budget creep, lost sleep at night and anything else you can imagine), and embrace them. 

Then, the seller who had just lost their house had to approve releasing my money.

He told me I didn't need one so, I told him it was dangerous work, his response "haven't lost anyone yet".

My worry is how bad are they affected by hurricane season and if so how hard is it to replace or keep tenants with lost or damaged homes

I’ve lost trust in believing anything at this point.

Then I mentioned that racism and xenophobia have a great deal to do with real estate investing, and I own two very similar houses that show that quite clearly.That's when you really went off the rails and lost the thread, Nick.

If you don't like the idea of your original birth certificate, passport, etc getting lost in the mail you mail want to google "Certified Acceptance Agents ITIN" in your area. 

I don't feel I can un-covert it due to the value lost in $ per sqft.It would rent for around $1600, which is quite high end around here.

I also have a smaller amount in a very conservative multifamily syndicator (MG Properties) who has multiple cycle experience and has never lost money.