Could be they were on big lots and more pool house type or who knows.You might also have better luck if you are leaving the garage for use, and building the apartment on top of the garage.Let us know if you have success and the war stories.

This also leads owners to ASSUME simpler is better when it comes to management contracts.

I didn't get the chance to run the numbers on my own, however with the capital that you've painstakingly saved, there are much better investing opportunities than anything negative in cash flow. 

.- $500 - $1,000 flat rate breakup fee, payable only in year 1.This very simple, but higher headline, fee structure better aligns incentives.

They also make fix and flip calculators that will help you get a better idea of how much you're looking to profit on a deal. 

Does it benefit us to structure our LLC for this project to favor his ownership 51% to better qualify for the loan?

Basically, I believe that at the start of your real estate journey, especially if you have young kids, it is better to start off down the path of least resistance.

Some call it partnering but the better solution is Joint Venturing.

In the future, I would do a better job of vetting my contractors and negotiating my price.

You couldn't say it any better.