Get their contact info, and call them once a quarter plus whatever other contact you choose to make with them. 

Yes mtg rates have been bumping up, and are expected to continue into the 1st quarter of next year.  

Being new to this, what are some known strategies that people use to purchase a second, third, fourth property quickly [within a couple of years] opposed to waiting for that single property to bring in enough income to afford the next purchase?

I like to use the reporting to look at metrics by year, quarter, ect

Ask to see their latest quarterly report.

I do these repairs and bill the cost to tenants following my quarterly inspections. 

The properties directly next door are quarter acre lots with houses ranging in value from 550k-700k and their are a few homes on 1 acre lots that are around 900k.

I'm pulling about a quarter mil out of some SFRs and trying to decide on buying a block of SFRs in Birmingham or stepping up to a small multi in Northern Jersey.

The two car garage is actually a metal garage on his property and he thinks he has an acre and a quarter on his side which if the house comes with an acre doesn't add up to 2. 

Most REO sellers will not turn on or allow water to be turned on, or allow repairs for appraisals or before closing, most secondary market loans require all utilities to be on at time of appraisal, minimum 5 years or more roof life left, no holes in walls or flooring larger than a quarter,  or significantly soiled flooring, walls, ect.