Honestly I don't have the answer.

Hey Carrie, I appreciate you sharing this story and being honest.

Since you haevn't acquired any properties yet I would honestly recommend waiting until April to interview as this time of year firms are pretty swamped with current year clients/filings. 

That situation would be extremely risky for a lender. 

To me it looks like the Three Stooges did it.One trade opens a hole in the wall/foundation to make some repairs, they don't do hole repairs and leave it.Homeowner decides to just leave it, or stack loose rubble bricks back in the hole--thus saving cost of a proper repair job.This is an extreme brick problem: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/defenders/2020/06/29/detroit-familys-home-collapses-as-landlord-refuses-to-answer-calls/

Go to meetups and network with other investors especially honest, hardworking investor-type agents that are looking out for your best interest not their pockets. 

The other person is honest and reliable, but is both of us first unit ever other than each others homes.

Honestly, just ask around.

I work heavily with investors and honestly, 70% never buy and do waste our time, however that is the nature of being an agent..doing what others won't because most of the 18,000+ licensed agents (just in Central FL.) are looking for the low hanging fruit and right now, there is plenty of that. 

I watched Jerry Nortons video about his 10k club but honestly it sounds like a scam and I would rather figure out how to find cash buyers a different way.