Despite all this, the seller is not willing to release the EMD, he offered 25% of the $5,000 EMD which is insane considering that we had a financing contingency in the contract.

His insurance company has denied his claim.

Received an offer with previous agent of $3.2M to sell to a developer with 12 month escrow.

If any one can offer insight and/or advice to get started for my situation, that would be appreciated.  

@Nathan DarcyFile eviction and offer cash for keys

We frequently have properties offered to us off market in the $250k-$750k range but finding decent lenders or investors is a slight challenge. 

Both banks and credit unions are good starting points, as they can offer different types of financing solutions that might suit your down payment goal of 15-20%, but the chances of getting 15-20% are limited as 25% is more likely to open more doors for you. 

Most lenders will offer two options:1: 20% down and 20 yr amortization and 10 yr term.2. 25% down and 25 yr amortization and 10 year term.Rates will vary by region, lender, and relationship with your lender.  

Additionally, crowdfunding offers diversification benefits, allowing investors to spread their risk across multiple properties or projects.

For example, the costs to obtain the mortgage are typically amortized over the life of the loan.Real estate also offers expenses that do not involve cash coming out of your pocket.