Also if you have equity on both houses, you can use both as collateral, this way you have a better stand.I find Discover will loan me 35k just by my score and signature, i have 750 and no debt (good OR bad).

Tyler:  with CMBS on the portfolio the risk is that the $29M loan is likely cross collateralized, unless the loan docs have a break up provision whereby the loan can be partially released based on a certain value of each asset in the portfolio.  

You may be able to get a discount/better payment terms when a lender has secured collateral.

Option 4: Land contract with just your $15k down, and put your other 4 unit as collateral (or 2nd lien if it's financed).

I don't have any experience with hard money, but it seems with your collateral being just land that may be tough.

Equities in Properties You could use the actual asset as a down payment, borrow against the equity, or use the property as additional collateral.

In that case, you'd have to figure out a way to collateralize the loan against another asset (or have the lender only lien up to 120% of the purchase price).

Since you own two houses, they feel "safe" as having the houses as collateral so that you can borrow against against them. 

Or are they holding it as collateral until the 5 years is up?

As Darren mentioned, it's not a good idea to make an investment in collateral which is involved in a law suit.