I messed up my tub 3 times till I got it right each time I did not fail I found a way not to do it the next attempt.

We have a grading system we've developed in-house which allows some leeway for certain types of credit dings (they are weighted differently).  

Yet he failed the first time on the real deal.

These can offset your total deductions to have the rental property take care of the debt service and carry as much of it's own weight as possible, when it comes to your DTI.

oh i see. they are assuming the property either carries its own weight as a gud investment to the borrower or sinks as a bad one and they cash in on their secured interest in it, regardless of the LLC's other debts, income, etc

Bit of an update on this.After a couple of failed starts, we relocated to Mesquite, near Sunnyvale recently - so not quite Garland, @Jon Klaus, but not too far away.  

However, the buyer (#1, with whom I was in contract) failed to provide proof of financing during the financing period.  

since they might fail to fill it out, on the premise they're an indie not an employee, i'd probably then go as far to write into the contract that the independent contractor cannot be paid per IRS, wihout an W-9 certifying their status as a payee.

Be prepared for kids failing out and needing to find a replacement (hence the sublet thing above).

I failed to mention in my earlier post that the house is already sold.