I think along with the software and tools themselves, it is extremely important to have good customer service at all times - this is often forgotten in the digital age, so remembering that aspect is vital.

@Sammie Baker - if you're using conventional financing (FNMA/FHLMC) you are required to have a 6mo seasoning period between acquisition date (deed) and the new note date (closing). 

But you're paying 5% instead of 3.5% or so from a conventional lender.

I used a low money down conventional mortgage.

You can find cash flow and with patience find a double digit cocroi.But again looking at Zillow or the MLS nothing looks good according to the 1% rule.

Can my mom use money from a 1031 exchange and I use money from a conventional mortgage loan to buy a house together?

@Suzanne Reilley and @Mitch Foster for self employed borrowers, if you're interested in a non conventional income analysis there are several options.

Let me preface this by saying that I’m relatively new to note investing and have single digit notes under my belt.

My experience is once my DTI ratio got too high I had to go the hard money route because I wouldn’t qualify for conventional financing, so I opened up a LLC to get financing through a Hard money Lender.

So the downfall of a construction loan is that I have to get everything finished by a contractor to be able to refinance into a conventional loan.