My options for fixing this were extremely limited, almost non existant.

Considering you can get 8% on average in the stock market and it takes no work and is extremely liquid, the extra 2% is not compelling enough to switch to real estate.I assume you are talking owning a property outright.  

The only benefit in this instance, as an investment partner in a JV, or member in a multi-member LLC, is it's an act of "good faith" on my part in the agreement, being extremely transparent about the project's costs for the construction company, and the specific amount the partner/member invoices as profit or salary attributed to construction services on the specific project (I differentiate profit from salary, as it depends on the size of your construction company, a smaller company the profit may be the salary etc). 

That felt extreme to us, especially since our money was literally going into the ether each month.

It's extreme hit or miss.

If you're going run of the mill with a 1400 mortgage on a 2 or 3 bedroom, you'll find extreme competition and most likely won't get booked.

From 2020 through 2022, I felt that investors had an unhealthy, and unrealistic, view of investing in a vacation rental. 

Many years later, I would realize that, even though I made very little profit during this phase of my investment career, I was still extremely fortunate.

ADU has to have a door leading to the interior main dwelling, effectively making the unit extremely less private and less insulated. 

- Weather: is there any extreme weather in Dallas I should be aware of?