That is what I did here in Chicago after continually running into walls on my own.If I could adjust one thing when I was getting started it would have been to be less scarcity minded...

Your approach to calculating the maximum construction size within a specified budget is enlightening.Based on your figures, I've noted the project budget as follows: Land Acquisition: $8,000 Utilities and Tap Fees: $7,000 Engineering, Building Permits, and Architect Fees: $5,000 Construction Cost: $180,000 (at $160 per square foot for up to 1,125 square feet) Total Project Cost: $200,000This budget underscores the critical importance of efficient cost management, especially in balancing project size and quality within the financial limits.Considering my project will be situated in New England, where costs tend to be higher, I've adjusted the budget to reflect a 40% increase in utilities, tap fees, engineering, building permits, and architect fees relative to the costs you've outlined for Ohio.

Propstream does have a nicer interface, but definitely needs user experience adjustments.

I'm not in the US, but my sense is like in Canada, the cost of living has gone up in the US; however, people aren't adjusting their spending accordingly. 

Also, we explored the option to do a boundary-line adjustment and compensate the neighbor for it, but he has a grandfathered clause in that allows him to build on the lot without meeting the new city requirements.

There are many ways to structure the above to adjust cash timing.  

Probably few real estate investment options today pay 7% return, and even if they did it is not risk adjusted. 

The benefit of having your medium-term rental as an Airbnb long-term stay is that you can adjust the pricing in the calendar on Airbnb so that if you are in slow season but moving into high season, you only have to take the pricing hit in the first month.

I have filed multiple claims across several properties and some have more than one claim (all within 1-2 years) and I have not had any rate adjustments.

There may be a learning curve, but there always is, and it's worth it to get it going and adjust as necessary.Good luck and congratulations!