Sure you could do a money market or put it in an ETF or something, but this is one of the options where the balance "can't" go down or is extremely low risk while making a decent yield.

So, after exploring several options, we just have to hold until our home is completed and then we can look at purchasing rental property. 

I would still work with a title company on this and let your lender know (if you have one) of the name change and what you are doing so they do not think you are selling the property.Another option would be to create a living trust for estate purposes and transfer it into the estate.

Quote from @Michael Fish: I, too, am interested in investing with their promissory note option.

You should find several good options.

Franky,Feel free to send me an email I can help with evaluating some options.   

More interested in land contracts and lease purchase options enough /without needing a lawyer each time.The properties are worth about 150k each.

If you are just starting it sounds like house hacking may be an option for you. 

I grew up in WNC and still have family there so that is an option and even have placed offers on cabins in WNC to make an STR but nothing has panned out yet for something like that.

Should effort be placed in a baseline business plan to determine the best option to start in for this field?