This could involve offering a higher interest rate in exchange for reduced upfront costs or deferring payments until a certain milestone.If building right away isn’t feasible, consider buying the lot now with the goal of paying it off over time, and save up to build when rates and budgets align.

Even with the reduced rates, my cash flow is poor for my equity position (i would still be cash flow negative at today’s rates).  

With that said I feel like I significantly improved my position and reduced my stress..Being  high income earner is great, but the goal is what you keep and what you spend.

Examples could include:Partnering with other investors to share risk.Using seller financing or lease options.Leveraging creative rehab techniques to save on costs.Negotiating with contractors in a unique way to reduce expenses.I’d love to hear any stories, tips, or approaches that helped you pull off a deal others might have instantly passed on.

Even in the nice locations, most top out around $2,800.Of course there is also your increased insurance, vacancy, repairs, CapEx, and the never mentioned reduced rent on the main house since having a stranger living in your backyard usually isn't appealing to most renters. 

But it seems to my simple way of thinking isn't that *also* going to reduce your monthly benefits to a large percent?

Depreciation can be applied to the investment portion, reducing taxable income.

But it’s clear you’re a smart investor who knows the long-term benefits real estate can bring.I keep reminding myself why I stick with real estate: you can make money every month in four different ways:Cash Flow – Passive income to live on.Appreciation – Long-term property value growth.Depreciation – Tax benefits that reduce your taxable income.Tenants Paying Down the Mortgage – Even if you’re paid off now, this is one of the biggest wealth-building tools for leveraged properties.It sounds like your main struggle is the stress of active management—and trust me, you’re not alone.

You need to be weary of that and reduce liability as much as possible. 

there are of course more creative strategies to reduce that up front outlay, or recoup your capital, like, say, the BRRRR method. but they are time and energy intensive and certainly not hands-off.