Ensure you screen properly, take security deposits and get parental co-signers for anyone who doesn't have a strong rental history.

The buyer defaulted on getting the mortgage secured within the time applicable.  

Call House Buyers like HomeVestors.com -  They may low ball the heck out of you, give you a really low offer that will almost make you mad, but in the CA market they might come back with something bordering reasonable. 

my experience is that they dont like LOC's north of $500K, and really prefer $300K,  But most banks would be happy to give you 70-80% LTV portfolio loan, the banks dont like LOC's secured against real estate, because it ties up twice you available, so if you have a $300K line with no balance, the bank need $600K on hand to cover you, that becomes a liability to them, but if the give you $300K and amm it, its backed by the asset, so the bank doesnt need  cash on hand to cover you, now you are an asset giving them a return on the investment they made. at least thats how it was explained to me

The lender wants to ensure that the title is clear to secure their position, so I can understand that but I thought title companies primarily look for liens against property.

I had to find a private lender to secure the additional financing which was a safe deal and it worked out but I'm always looking for experience to build off of.  

After months of searching and negotiation we were able to secured 3 townhouses next to each otherFinancingThe way i structure the deal is pretty simple. each of us would put in an email amount of money for the 25% down payment (yes, i put my own money into the deal as well) the the rest i financing it out through a Commercial bank that I has a relationship with.

Can I keep her security deposit for not allowing my entry to the property after I've given sufficient notice?

get references from the builder, ask for his last five jobs, talk to those people.Builders can be great sometimes, and bad at other times, it is almost what they can get away with.Don't pay until job is completed, do not pay up front, if the builder can't afford to buy material to start the job, you need to find a more secure builder.

I need to build my credit history starting with secured credit cards, work up to unsecured cards over the next few months before trying to qualify for mortgages with US banks later this year.