I still very much enjoy working on cars, and plan to continue doing so because I love it, but I'm ready to start growing my wealth as well as generating passive income.I've owned a few homes, I have some experience as a self managing landlord, I've made some mistakes and had a couple big wins as well.

It wouldn't generate cash; it'd be a consumable good, effectively.

After some landscaping, carpet and paint, handyman work, professional cleaning, and photographs, it cost me 3.7k.

I have off shore investors … the only issue I had was my bank wanted to check the patriot act box.when I was getting multi million dollar wires into my accounts.. they wanted to make sure it was clean money.to that end my investors came to the us and we had a meeting with my bankers.. going direct to your attorneys trust account could work.. but the funds I brought in went into my account. 

Updated changes below, the rental income itself is generating about 0.5%:I have to be missing something here, please help!

And buying larger individual residential rental doesn't seem generate same return rate (If anyone think I am wrong, please chime in).

The house is in great shape and was maintained well by the tenants, but I'm sure we will need a day or two of miscellaneous cleaning/repairs.

Figure out side hustles you can do, mowing lawns, start a window cleaning company, etc., anything to stack some cash, because with a house hack on a multi family unit, you're going to need at least 5% down.

Is there a ballpark sq ft cost to do a simple clean, paint, carpet etc?

No one in this generation is 100% self made cause its impossible.