We will either bring on another investor each year to make the yearly payment or we will just forgo the income payments to the partners and make the yearly house payments out of the cash flow if we just want to keep the property with only 7 investors. 

Reliable property management is everything, especially as out-of-state investors.

A “contract to hold” binder payment equal to a month’s rent would also be collected at that time.

Hey Account Closed - I highly suggest  using a renovation loan and house hacking a multi-family if that is possible with your current life circumstances.The 203k and homestyle renovation loans are just amazing products and drastically help you reduce your risk, in my opinion, because you are able to leverage the cost of the entire renovation with such a low down payment loan.We work with a lot of clients who use these products in Chicago, and no matter what, in the long term, they gain great equity.If you aren't able to house hack - the process is essentially the same, but just with more money down with hard money or conventional construction loan.

I use Buildium for tracking rent, fees, leases, and collecting online payments, but I don't use their reports for much, as I end up copying my online banking each year into spreadsheets.I've been using Rental Hero for the last hour and already impressed with it.

I assume you currently have a residential mortgage that does not have a pre-payment penalty.

With my CFO clients, I generally assume a 35% operating expense margin (which excludes vacancy and mortgage payments) to start with and adjust from there.

Here are a couple of ways you could structure the deal:Lease Option with Seller Financing: You could lease the property with an option to buy later, allowing you to rehab it while giving the sellers time to find a 1031 replacement property.Seller Financing with Deferred Payment: Structure the seller financing with no immediate payments, allowing you to refinance once the property is appraised, and the sellers can complete the 1031 exchange when ready.Escrow Holdback: Transfer the deed into an escrow account, giving you control without immediate transfer, so the sellers can take their time with the 1031.Third-Party Facilitation: Use a qualified intermediary to hold funds and facilitate the 1031 exchange while you refinance.These options allow flexibility for both you and the sellers.

If they work independently, set their schedule, and use their resources, they might qualify as a 1099 contractor, but misclassification risks IRS penalties.Wages for W-2 employees and payments to 1099 contractors are both deductible business expenses, but compliance is key.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

With the HELOC and then converting it to a term loan you will probably be paying higher interest and/or shorter amortization period on conversion which will mean higher monthly payments.