While it certainly would be better to also cash flow, the objectives of many new builds are to create instant equity upon completion. 

Remaining principle on the mortgage was paid by Flock at closing ( ~60K), so my shares at Flock represent the equity in the home that I’d accumulated from appreciation and principal repayment over the last 17 yrs.I like their approach/strategy.

NSPIRE will be used for all HUD funded housing programs.With NSPIRE, inspectors for HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing will be able to conduct objective, defensible, and consistent assessments to evaluate housing conditions.

So, the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle applies.

If investors, you need experience and a strong understanding of how deals should be structured so that you can offer your investors adequate returns to meet their objectives while also having enough meat on the bone to be worth your efforts.

 You may be able to secure higher leverage financing through alternative lenders than a traditional bank (not always the case) and this may help advance your objective of reducing the down payment/cash requirement but that may only be temporary relief as you will likely pay more over the course of the loan because of higher rates and fees.

I have never had any tenant object to paying an extra $35 per month to have the softener, that is about what they cost to rent from softener companies.

Now onto the real estate...If you truly want to protect yourself against STR regulations only purchase property with the intent of  operating as an STR where these three principles apply: (1) the use is allowed, (2) the use requirements are protected by in place permitting and licensing and (3) the permissions are transferable through a sale.

My brother in law works for them, absolutely loves his job and his employer, so very hard to be objective about deciding to invest. 

When I started, I first wrote out my 3 main objectives for my portfolio, which was cash flow, appreciation, tax benifiets in that order.