I'm not sure what type of contract was used by the wholesaler who is being boiled, but it really doesn't matter as the wholesaler is lacking in several different areas of contracting and establishing an equitable interest.1 Lack of consideration to establish a financially measurable equitable interest, an equitable interest must have a value that is significant to the value of property.2.

My goal is to find dependable lenders and establish a working relationship

I want to establish some alternative financing sources to assure that this doesn't happen again.

Establish a payment history on those leases.

If you dont plan to carry through dont even start.Building a real buyers list wont happen until you have established a great deal of trust with your local buyers.

Its a gamble sure but the historic return on the stock market is 8% a year. 

Most established developers will always have an inventory of land so that they can jump in opportunity when it comes about in he future.

Once they were on contract, I was still the POC for the seller, as I had the established relationship with them. 

Revenue Procedure 2008-16 establishes a safe harbor where you could consider yourself OK after two years.  

@Matt Ward, your cash flow should make it fairly easy to establish a credit history.