I want to ask whether anyone has thought about or tried this approach? 

But I think your idea to delay tax using the 1031 approach is clever.

If you are interested in finding Mentors, I recently wrote "The Ultimate Guide to Finding Incredible Mentors" - check it out!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to finance this type of deal or general thoughts on how I'm approaching it?         

I have found the tools here to be incredibly useful and I think you are starting in the right place by analyzing the deal before you move on it!

Good luck with the approach.

I've been approach by two investors trying to syndicate a deal.

What strategies to you have for finding these folks, and how to approach them with creative financing options even if we are not loaded?

The three roommates approached my brother and I with the news that they were throwing in the towel and were moving back to Va., and who could blame them?

I'm pretty confident I can get the investment backing, but I want to get my ducks in a row (renderings, investment return, etc|) before I approach my pool of investors, so as to look legit:)  Before doing that, however, I want to be able to articulate the structure of the deal.In the case where the land owner is involved, is he/she a equity stakeholder with a preferred IRR in the deal?