Builders?

Unless you are building Rental units, the SF Retail market construction market is not doing well, hopefully your builder is borrowing money at sub 10% interest rates.  4 years ago, a lot of builders were only factoring in 3% for total loan costs, I would think that the carry costs would be 10% or more currently.  3.

It won’t be fun building unless you or someone you truly trust, not your builder is on site.  

Construction costs in NJ are high but we help owner builders design and contract out their build.

You are 100% on the right track. 2-1 buydowns are attractive options offered by sellers/builders to help improve monthly affordability but in all reality you aren't saving anything. 

If they cannot agree, the referees shall at once appoint an umpire, and the award by a majority of such body shall be made within 10 days after the appointment of the umpire and shall be final between the parties.

If I were to take a poll of all of the investors who came before you and who  implemented similar entity formation structures I suspect at least 90% fail to utilize the correct insurance depending on the status of their project (vacant, builders risk, property etc.), fail to execute contracts with vendors, use uninsured and unlicensed vendors, fail to be added as additional insured (likely don't even know the difference between being a certificate holder and being added as additional insured).   

My husband is an old-school builder.

How does build to rent work and what builders are best for this?

Currently, I am a seasoned Contractor / Residential Builder working for clients.