Once you get to know what other people have done, it will be easier to see what you need to do and use their recommendations to build your team.

I want to use the rent to help me build up a larger emergency fund, to the tune of $20k more than I have right now.

I'm new to BP and have 2 LTR right now, I had another 4 LTR units (6 in total) in a multi family building and sold that building. 

Hi there - I just wanted to hear some opinions on what everyone thing is the best play in the market going forward. Look forward to hearing all the input and connecting with any interested investors.Cheers everyone!

Or the building you run your restaurant out of. 

I recommend you read some books about how to manage properties well, use a strong contract, know that contract inside/out, know your state law inside/out, build policies and procedures to catch and stop problems quickly, know how to screen and select good applicants, etc.An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

A Self-Certified permit review would likely only take a few weeks; as compared to 4-6 Months for a project which is not "Self-Certified" and needs to go through the "Standard Plan Review" process.A Zoning analysis should be performed for your property ASAP using a Plat of Survey to ensure you would be allowed to build what you want to build, and check for any potential "Setback" concerns when it comes to adding Dormers...

Wife and I were thinking about building to eventually rent instead of just selling the property outright.

As Mark Simpson says, you're building your house on someone else's land.

Throughout this process no matter who they are or what there issue is,  stay in touch with the seller which keeps everyone eye to eye and builds trust.