I'm presently a facilities engineer by trade, who does some construction and maintenance for landlords on the side, hoping to get back into the private real estate game.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a reliable, quality cleaning company with great communication?

., get a higher paying job, work two jobs, go to trade school, get a higher paying degree, live in affordable area, etc...these are things that most of us did).

@Greg O'Brien - Do you mind sharing your company details? 

Here are some general guidelines: Lien Position1st Position LienEquityMinimum Down Payment of 20-25% (a 30% equity to sale price is preferred)Down Payment made in certified funds and not borrowedMaximum Funding of 70% ITV (Investment to Value)SeasoningMinimum of two monthly payments already made12 months or more preferredPayer CreditCredit Score of 650 or higherNo major derogatory trade lines (No 90-180+ days delinquent, foreclosure, repossession, bankruptcy, etc.)No decline in credit since purchase of businessTermsPrefer 60 months or lessMaximum of 72 monthsNo Balloon Payment preferredCash FlowBusiness has positive cash flow1.25 debt service coverage ratio preferred.DocumentationPersonal guarantee from a creditworthy individualStandard documents including Note, Security Agreement, and UCC-1 filing.Tax Returns on the business that substantiate profit and loss statements.OtherPayment history current and verifiablePayer Interview indicating buyer is satisfied with business and comfortable making paymentsMotivation for selling the note is not a result of a deteriorating businessConsideration of high risk businesses or geographic areasIn these situations, sometimes a partial is a better option. 

Both offer unique advantages, but understanding the trade-offs is crucial for making the right decision.

The triplex is much more popular with traveling work crews for specialists in the trades and insurance relocations, so if we were to do it again, I would probably worry less about making each room it's own rentable space and save a little bit of those costs. 

You don't have a recourse because you took the liability on yourself knowing that is not his trade.  10 days later you have a water leak in the SAME bathroom causing the ceiling downstair to leak AGAIN.  

@Jerry Chilimidos Yes, you can use your SDIRA for hard money lending, with income going back into your SDIRA tax-deferred or tax-free (unless the activity rises to trade or business, then you might be exposed to UBTI).

Additional Info —Key Details:Location: Outside Santa Fe, NMProperty Size: 20 acres (valued at $80,000)Project: Two new STR unitsExisting Experience: Family has two fully-occupied LTRs nearby, generating $2,000/monthConstruction Approach: Self-contracted with licensed trades for electrical/plumbingCost Assumption: $80,000 per unit, plus ~20% for inflation (based on 5–8-year-old build costs)Financing: Using land equity as down payment on construction loan (expecting closing costs to be major expense)Request: Looking for feedback, potential pitfalls, and general guidance