Those 7 years were cash positive, but we just weren't making enough cash flow to make it worth the trouble. 

Typically to grow a real estate business and raise money you are better off partnering with someone.

Better to make that mistake, and buy another deal, than to not bought the deal.  

I'm not saying you're doing this, but people will often make the mistake of looking into the highest priced rental unit and making that the "market rate" but it's often not a true comparable to the subject.

Long story short, it has been over a year and the project remained incomplete and he walked away with the money.

Houfy is very inexpensive to list on, and syncs with the other platforms, making it a very quick and cheap way to do direct bookings.

Money was deposited into my account the day after checkout.

People just make sure they have all that they need when they head out.

or, do you cash flow only after you've set aside money for capex and other items? 

We try to save money by occasionally doing our own work, we only have a handful of properties.