Did you vet contractors in-person prior to hiring them to work on your projects?

I did notice end of 2024 to be more active and January to continue that streak compared to 2023 and start of 2024.

Private Money Lenders are going to be hard for a primary residence as it is an investment and typically they want to see a return prior to two years - also, the house would need to be purchased at a discount which would limit your options on a primary residence - now if you are looking for something that needs some work that you are planning on fixing up, it would be a little more feasible.

Then it's simple, build the home, find crews to do the work (you should already have them basically from the prior step), excavation, concrete, sealing, framing, roof/gutters/siding, windows, insulation drywall, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, finishes, etc. basically in that order.

It's always worth comparing rates and terms, as some lenders might be more aggressive with loan-to-value ratios, depending on the location and property condition.

See how many listings are still available and how yours compares.

My goal is to offer an affordable monthly payment that competes with renting a comparable property and offers a benefit to paying a bit more to "own". 

.: I haven't passed this past legal review so for what its worth: Part of my standard requirements for everyone include income is at least 3X rent, minimum credit score, say 640, Clean record and no evictions as well as deposit is paid in full at signing of lease and 1st month rent is paid in full prior to handing over the keys.

Our 275 sq ft furnished garage should rent for $1600 - $1800/mo and the only extra fees compared to long term is $99/yr to post on furnishedfinders.com. ...I should have this finished by the end of next month, so can keep you updated on whether this plan works and what we rent for. 

If your rent ends up being comparable to your current mortgage, it might not give you the cash flow flexibility you’re hoping for.