But now I'm going through the approval process and learning that hard money lenders only lend to entities (LLC, corporation, etc) and conventional loans only work with individuals.

Appreciate any suggestions/info about tax under LLC/General Corporation, mortgages, legal structures especially for a foreigner.

Starting out with your first rental allows you more flexibility, the more units you scale it would be wise to have a more thorough and consistent process.Cash:  Most people will advise against cash because it's hard to track and inconvenient.  11% of American's don't have bank accounts though, sometimes this might be your only option. 

I once worked in Credit and Finance in major corporations and dealt with PG (personal guaranty).

@Aaron Youngman Moved my whole operation to Knoxville... same crew, same business model, equipment, etc just a new corporation filed in a new state.

Perhaps look into turning units into furnished corporate rentals where you can charge considerably more than an average apartment ?

. - Yes, all units will rent very very well in the area that it's in. the other option will be in slow season to offer corporate housing or month to month university housing to graduate students at the university less than 4 miles away. - As far as Rehab - most of them are currently cosmetics.

Unfortunately, most Americans don't like calling a spade a spade so we refer to these transfer payments as Fannie and Freddie.  

The lease is corporately-guaranteed by Fresenius What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

A trustee can be an individual, corporation, a third-party, a beneficiary, or even the settlor (you).