Another important piece of information is that I had a short sale less than three years ago, and this is my main concern regarding having to legally contact the lender. 

HI, i have a piece of land that currently has a 4 units builing on it. they are 4 units, 2/2. 

You win because you will get a piece of real estate all fixed up after you friend works on it.Your friend wins because he is compensated for the work he did.If you do decide to go the partnership route, spend an hour or two with an attorney and have everything in writing.What is each partner's ownership percentage?

I read that before but never put the pieces together. 

And thank you for highlighting the lesson learned on the financing piece.

@Matthew Bruce BaileyI use what's called a pen, combined with a piece of paper.

He finally sold them (at a profit).A few years later, just a few blocks away, a young couple was murdered, chopped into pieces and stuffed in a trash can in what was probably a drug deal gone bad.

I started to cover the top with something since the wood piece was unfinished but didn’t.  

Also, Id like to take my game up one or two notches !

I feel as though I have to be missing something.What pieces of the puzzle am I missing here?