I am wondering if i am losing out on money by renting long term?

The winning bidder won't have documents to prove ownership, so how can they protect their money or interests during this time?

Apply any money paid first to the bill, then to rent. 

Her staff wasn’t allowed to handle money, so we didn’t receive rents for months.

Great, i had very little money upfront ( of course that was 20+ years ago ) and with me being a contractor did all the work myself on weekends and evenings. 

Do you still have the hard money loans on your two existing properties? 

Doing so may be considered illegal retaliation and could lead to legal consequences.It's crucial for both landlords and tenants to be aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding rent increases to ensure a fair and legal process is followed.

I am looking with a private money lender to partner with, now and in the future, to close the gap between bank funding and my available capital.

You can invest in notes/private lending so that you can make that money work for you and continue to grow. 

Keep clear records of money coming in and out.