We use private lending to finance the purchase and construction of this home.

Looking for help and suggestions- I want to say I have learned my lesson and now know to use a third party to hold funds.This is my first time working with a private lender/family member.

A post on the official Norada Capital Management website from 2022 (attached screenshots in addendum), boldly states the following:“Norada Capital Management offers investors opportunities to invest in Promissory Notes with fixed rates of return ranging from 12% up to 17.5% per year,” ( Link ).In explaining the use of proceeds from the promissory notes—specifically the entities Norada Capital Management, a private equity firm, supposedly lends to in order to generate these high annual rates, the company states that:“Three of those five categories that our company invests in as a private equity firm include e-commerce-based businesses very lucrative area, especially if you’re in the right area of e-commerce.

Like @Chris Seveney said, private lending is a great way to go as well.  

Since the average company lifespan is 10–18 years, most private-sector jobs your current tenants hold will disappear in the foreseeable future.

That's the biggest piece that can surprise investors.

I think the biggest roadblock has been the lack of true testimonials of successful people in these programs.  

So cash flow isn’t the biggest concern.

That alone was the biggest improvement for my business practices and allowed me to take all of my bookkeeping in-house and eliminate the expense I was shelling out for a bookkeeper.

My biggest advice I have for new landlords self-managing is know the laws and have a beefy lease.