As such, you qualified for a truly self-directed Solo 401k plan (as long as you don't have any employees working for you).

I would guess that an employee in the zoning department could answer questions, too.  

There are many excluded, niche groups (beyond the scope of this post), but here are the ones that you could fall under:Large Businesses20+ FULL TIME W2 US based employees; ANDU.S.

As an employee of a MF Development Company, your boss will expect you to dedicate full-time hours to your job.

Using my slow days to fill work for employees and build equity.  

Many opt for other investing methods in their SDIRA like private lending, crypto, private equity...anything except collectibles and life insurance.Note that a Solo 401k is exempt from UBIT on leveraged real estate so if you have self employment activity and no full time employees save for you and your spouse you should consider the Solo K as an option. 

To the wealthy trying to get ultra wealthy-- leverage & marrying wrong.So the difference between you spending 7-8 hours sleeping and dinner with your family, is not different than a W2 employee making $75k/annually and an ultra wealthy person making $75k/hour.It's just the systems in place. 

If you find someone that will let you supply the materials and work for labor only and sign a contract you supplied , you have hired an employee , a laborer , not a contractor .

Some of The pros  there is that I see my money first, and then I pay out my 1099 employee. 

I have a couple of investments and am about to jump into a Short term rental while still being a w-2 employee.