I was thinking of either an FHA loan, rent for 6 months to a year (to build work history), or obtain owner-financing of some sort.

It almost doesn't seem worth it unless I find myself in a position down the road where the cost of building is less of a burden.If I sell I probably would only get $225k for the duplex once built (minus fees) but I'll have paid $275k so I sort of stand to lose an equal amount if not a little bit more

@Forrest Faulconer Now you've got me curious, drop a link to the worst you've seen! 

2) Am I taking for granted that we would be able to set up some sort of payment plan for the taxes?

Talk to your lawyer as all of that should have been sorted at closing.

I've looked for pricing info related to this kind of thing and it's very hard to find, so I'm praying someone out there who has done this sort of thing can give me a realistic ballpark of what this would cost. 

Assume the worst and hope for the best. 

is there any legal structure can that protect me in this worst case scenario?

I would not pay that kind of money for any program of this sort.

Would you have anyone that you would recommend we talk to that could help us sort all this out Rick?