I have a rental property that I paid cash for about 8 months ago.

The difference is that he will not be making any payments on that cash during the build. 

It almost look like you a little or negative cash flow and look at tax benefit to justify keeping it. 

Option 1:30 Year FixedLoan Amount $202,500.00LTV 75%Discount Points %0.00Prepayment Penalty (3/2/1)Interest Rate % 8.225Origination Fee % 0.00Underwriting Fee $1,645.00Monthly Mortgage Payments $2,018.76Broker Fee % 1.25Cash From Borrower $78,081.01Option 2:5/6 ARMLoan Amount $202,500.00LTV 75%Discount Points %0.00Prepayment Penalty (3/2/1)Interest Rate % 8.025Origination Fee % 0.00Underwriting Fee $1,645.00Monthly Mortgage Payments $1,990.40Broker Fee % 1.25Cash From Borrower $78,052.65I'm not sure what credit score is being used to qualify BUT this looks to be inline with the current market rates for a 75% LTV cash out on an invest property.

Based on the numbers you provided, your cost of capital is higher than your best case cash yield (cap rate).

Interest rates are often a key concern for real estate investors, as mortgages are often the difference between a cash-flowing deal and a dud.

The barrier is the additional complexity - now you are operating two sets of books, and filing two tax returns, and have more operating agreements, more state registrations, etc, need to manage cash better, need to keep in constant mind that your rents need to be a supportable FMV, which may require getting third party certification on your rents so that in the event of an IRS audit, what you have done is supported.In short...the size of the project, and the taxable income, need to be of enough scope to make all the additional costs and annoyances worth it. 

Purchase price: $235,000 Cash invested: $230,000 Sale price: $595,000 Property was a 3/2.

This might be a workable scenario for me.Lack of experience would not kill this deal for us but it would depend on a few things.Usually the biggest challenge for newer investors is in the amount of equity you have available to infuse into the project.You need to have a cash down payment to secure financing.With 25% Down you would be in a multiple financing offer situation where we're just fighting to get best deal possible and batting off Wholesale Account Execs left and right.

Good deals will find cash, but good cash will find deals.I think the most valuable skill is networking.