Anyone worth anything in the trades wouldn't work for less than 25 per hour.

We are looking forward to retirement but concerned about our ability to weather the stock market swings over the next 25 years and maybe more.

I left my corporate job almost 2 years ago to move closer to home (family), and saw this as an opportunity to learn the contracting trade working with my cousin who operates a construction business.

I feel that is the main strategy I am going to employ when I'm in full swing.

Good [enough] management for an SFR is easy to find, and not worth trading equity for in my opinion.

If you only have one project going you can do it yourself, but you will pay more for trades people than if you had a GC getting the bids. 

If the economy collapses you will have something worth trading.

We’ve been told that we can still finance but depending if Fannie or Freddie approves and why the big swing on rate quote.

They have my in-laws as well as a few local handy men and trades they use around the park, as well as relying on equipment they own for other businesses ( bucket truck from tree trimming business, skid steer, trailers, construction equipment).

You may be able to swing a smaller SFR for 350k that rents for 1800/mo, maybe a tiny bit less.