Currently only 8% of our customers are coming from there.Customer base: This is an older part of the larger city made up of very distinct demographics; Spanish, Old Italian area, and downtown techie/entertainment area.

There is not clear distinction, it is a feel for the area. 

* I should add, I required a co-signer to qualify for the loan and would not be able to pursue this without a co-signer, which the lender said was a key distinction when it comes to FHA non-occupant co-borrower rules. 

My thinking was that if these two entities shared the same LLC, but had distinct DBAs, then my expenses with the real estate (land purchase, engineering consultants, architect and construction costs, etc.) might be offset somewhat by my consulting income.  

There are several distinctions that are important for sellers to understand between seller financing vs. cashing out.What Is Seller Financing?

A slip and fall as referenced above does not always rise to the level of negligence on a single individual's part yet an LLC can take the brunt of the suit or avoid it all together if the plaintiff ('s attorney) sees there's nothing to get.Tom, while you might understand the nuances of the distinction you are drawing, it is a bad idea for individuals to think that there  is no difference in operating under an LLC and as an individual.

In any case, a license is a usually a minimum standard, and so additional certifications (such as Certified Professional Inspector, or Certified Master Inspector) are above and beyond that you might want to look for.Where the real distinctions come though, is from specialties, if your purchase requires any.

@James Edwards some important distinctions here: - With Primary Homes the seller concession limit with Fannie/Freddie is 3% - With Investment Properties the seller concession limit with Fannie/Freddie is 2%A seller concession is anything that the seller pays for that normally would NOT be paid by the seller.  

I need to make a distinction though.

The valuation and market value of a multi family property differs from a single family and you want someone that understands the distinctions if you go that route.