Work with someone who keeps you informed every step of the way.10.

It is not always a sellers market and renting is sometimes the best path.

What are some ways I can verify that tenants are protected throughout the entire lease? 

BEst thing you could do is post it in here on classifieds looking for financing and provide information such as your credit score, how much you are purchasing it for, your down payment amount, how much construction is and how much experience you have, then you could have 15-20 lenders giving you a quote from the institutional lenders as there are very few and far in between who actually table fund.

Best wishes....

I'm willing to help this person in any way I can.

It’s a great way to maximize rental income while offering a unique solution to tenants.- Value-Add Investments: Beyond cosmetic upgrades, think about adding amenities like solar panels, EV charging stations, or smart home tech.

Best of luck!

However, I'm short on cash (will be putting $20k of my personal money into this)  and I am exploring creative ways to source funds for the project.I’ve been quoted for a $100K HELOC on my primary residence with a 30/1m ARM at a 13.25% rate and APR, with an interest-only monthly payment of $1,016 and $3,825 in points.

The low down payment house hack is the way to go.