I'm interested in partnering with locals and building new and creative ways to build equity and compound my investments!

Perhaps the loan calculator is using compound interest instead of simple interest.

It's simply called "floor leveling compound" and Home Depot should have it:https://www.youtube.com/watch?

I was instantly hooked and knew this was part of my life that I was missing.To compound things I work in a very cyclical industry and I can tell you it is scary being dependent on a job to put food on the table in a down market.

In addition, most residential mortgages (all the fixed ones) compound interest semi-annually.

ForEx I expect 60% per annum, I prefer 5% compounding monthly.

The floors are wet and bowing from the absorption of urine.

Post a floor plan, that will help.Nicest conversion I have seen with an old retail space got rid of the show windows and replace with bow framing with double hung on each side of a picture window with shingles over the top on the built out wall.

Compound interest is crucial for wealth creation and your 20s are the best time to start. 

It took me another 15 years or so to actually "pull the trigger" and get into RE investing, and all I see other than missed learning opportunities is all of that lost compounding of interest.You don't have to go big, but get going!