I like to have access to around $8K for a SFH rental. 

Do you have access to the capital to do that?

Your lease should also state a fee that will be accessed if they don't. 

I have access through the MLS with my realtor but there is little to no inventory in that area.

I'm also very interested in REITS but I haven't found any that are being realistic enough about climate threats related to natural disasters, floods, heatwaves, freshwater access, etc. 

HELOC idea is very good, it allows you to pull some equity, but this is treated like a credit card, you get a higher rate, but have access to it whenever you need it should a rainy day come.Hope this helps!!

There are a few self-contained guides that you can access here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guidesI really like the alerts feature that can quickly guide you to current topics that might interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

If you have access to lots of deals and your investor base trusts you enough to invest without much info on the deal on the front end - a fund could be a good option. 

There is no way you can sue, but you can ask to have access to your items to remove them and the landlord can be present while you do so to ensure you don't damage the apartment (I'm not saying you would, but that will be of a concern to them).You can try talking to them, but from their perspective, you've lived there for 7 months without paying any rent or utilities and why would they allow you to stay? 

We also have a couple of larger projects looming such as a retention wall (we are on a canal with ocean access), a new driveway, and completion of a fence.