@Amy FirminAmy, If you are bringing your kids in to teach them the business, letting them know that trying to cut costs by saving on legal fees is definitely not the best advice.A partnership template may technically cover the needs of the parties at its inception but may not be sufficient to cover the eventualities that can arise in real time.If you do find that template, spending a few bucks to have an experienced eyeballs on it to button it up seems like a good idea.

@Jordan Northrup, the others hit on this, capital is by far the hardest part. I

Are there no other parties interested?

this will help with the administrative tasks (e.g. yearly 1099, pay off statements, accounting especially if the borrower pays faster) as well as helping to provide a 3rd party proof of non-payment in case you need to foreclose.Be sure to use an attorney that specializes in Notes, not necessarily a real estate attorney, to draft the paperwork and protect your interests.Good luck.

This is straight from the Chicago Association of REALTORS website:A reminder that the Chicago Residential Lease, and all of CAR’s forms and contracts, are an exclusive member benefit for use only by Chicago Association of REALTORS® members or those who are party to a transaction facilitated by a Chicago Association of REALTORS® member.

Include this in your sales pitch when reaching out.3) Offer STR services to build up cash and get your foot in the door...Cleaning, eyes on the property, landscaping, running to the store, small tasks such as a mail collection/trash day, offer a STR experience such as setting up for bachelor/bachelorette parties or grocery runs, etc...I think there's a missed opportunity with service based businesses and STRs. 

-Would it be better to ask for the down payment loan and construction loan from the same party, or are there any advantages to seeking loans for renovation costs elsewhere, such as HMLs or even credit cards?

@Logan HartleI have done a couple like this and as Greg said the hard part is guessing what your future tenant will need. (# and size of offices, bathrooms,doors, windows, floor drains, lights, truck docks).If you make an educated guess you will likely still be tearing out or changing brand new walls and concrete, but if you leave it incomplete it is harder to rent.Plan on some extra expense for those tenant improvements.

Did you run those rents through a third party system to see if they are at market?

I agree with you that it would be best to have both the company on the lease in addition to the tenant, we're just having a difficult time figuring out how to do that because of the language on our lease- It just used the word "tenant", so we're not sure how to clarify one party is financially responsible, while the other party will actually be residing there (tenant)-