After doing much more research and hearing the opinions of other professionals, I've concluded that it's best to utilize them for smaller deals, refinance to pay them back in full so I can take over full ownership, and continue to progress from there.

Everything. 2) Make sure you have a signed contract that is legal and thorough. 3) keep the progress payments relatively equal to the work being done....example - don't pay for tile when you're still doing framing.Go get some bids and then come back and talk to us again... 

My worst-case scenario is I buy an in-progress rehab all cash in a few months.

All this to say I do love tracking progress just to stay motivated if nothing else.

In the future, for other investments we may diversify to LTR as well, but I'll always analyze for MTR/STR too.I'll continue to post our updates and progress along the way!

No particular industry, small country town, etc. the other units have been rented for years, and I will find out more on their lease agreements as the week progresses.

Still in progress.

He qualified the people, sold, originated, structured the deals, and I'd collect the paperwork needed to close them out, progressively solving bigger and bigger hiccups without the LO's help or input. 

The progression towards more passive income sources, balanced against the backdrop of your evolving investment strategy, can lead to a more favorable tax position.

Unfortunately still very very challenging on the SRO Front - I am still working on getting the capital markets side of the equation comfortable with it, but work in progress