This is the blueprint I have been working with my past/current clients, its simple, boring but can be effective. 

I'm currently 17 years old and for a long time I've been intrigued by rental properties.

It came with the strategy book, a VHS explaining the entire thing, AND a book of current tax leins for the area I picked at the time, San Bernardino, CA.

Is it normal in the current market?

I have two rentals that I house hacked and currently house hacking.

Since we purchased it, we brought power back to the property currently set up as 2 RV hookups and additional outlets on a backer board (for a total of 200-amp service), had an RV pad and driveway put in, and had the developed year-round spring well brought back online - there will be a pump house built near the backer board this Spring (1st photo).

I'm currently in escrow with NACA.

If you donate them to a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, you can get a tax deduction equal to the current fair market value of property, no matter what your parents paid and no matter whether title has been quieted or not.  

As a newbie passive real-estate investor currently living in Austin, TX. 

It doesn't sound like those 2% rates happen often, so it doesn't make much sense for me to be comparing the current rates to them.