And what we describe will help others not take on investments of a super high risk nature without being able to sustain if the investment is lost.

I went on the county website, found the contact info for all the lot owners and started mailing out heartfelt letters describing why they should sell me their land.

In addition coffee being a commodity varies so extensively on supply and demand, which is also impacted by the aforementioned characteristics i described earlier. 

What you describe is what the best agents have been doing for years. 

The project info on their site says they were a repeat borrower, but the FTF comms that you include in your post describe their knowledge of the borrower’s liability to have been 2nd hand at best.

Upon its effective date, this document hereby releases any mechanic's lien, stop notice, or bond right the undersigned has on the property located at ___________ for the work described above, including all labor, services, equipment, or material furnished on the job.

I've had the same question and have had countless house hackers describe to me why house hacking is a successful strategy even if you don't make money while you're occupying one of the units. 

I describe it as choppy.

So if the four plex is under one roof then I used a capex number as described above about useful life.

What you're describing is a pretty solid strategy, and a good way to get your foot in the door.