He's the best in the business   

What's the construction cost per square foot?

I have grown to really like the STR business!

House hacking offers reduced living costs and hands-on experience, while primary home purchase and leveraging equity offers homeownership and appreciation.

You are looking for a specific product and you have a situation that creates more liability for a lender, so it's going to be more costly no matter how you slice it. 

I would be willing to help - but you know you need a lawyer - taking advice from people on the internet is not a great business decision.

My husband and I are looking to buy our first ever real estate investment out of state (we live and rent in NYC. we do not want to buy here due to high cost of properties and high tax rates).

Do you know of anyone who would be willing to partner with you on this deal to assist with the closing and holding costs?

While many people do this and get away with it, you  need to realize ther are costs and risks for doing this.

Im have started my private/hard money lending business and looking to have money partners to grow my business since I have ran out of my private money.