Quote from @Chris Seveney: @Charlene Kingsnorth have you had an sec attorney also review what you are doing as if you're are having multiple people as part of a loan participating in it depending on the state this could get you in hot water - so be careful  good point Chris some state allow fractionalized deed of Trust mortgages other do not or require PPM like documents prior to offering them..

With that in mind, you'd also have to make sure the land you'd buy has water and electric running to it already.

The city required the road to be extended a few feet, along with water and sewer.

After 5 months we had a bad water leak under the house.

Are you in a market where water lines could freeze in the winter if there’s no heat?

Maybe the P trap under the sink is not filling with water correctly and allowing sewer gas to come back in.  

Then based on @Michael Baum's suggestion, I think I will have my cleaner and/or maintenance person do monthly/quarterly maintenance like using using enzyme based cleaners, grease fighting drain treatments and hot water flushing. 

City water 200 yards away

One misstep and you could be in hot water. 

It had 22 of the 25 lots occupied but we'll be fixing it up, filling it up, billing back water and raising rent up to market.