.- I was able to get access to private investigator software to find the true owners of these properties since conventional skiptracing produced poor results.  

Conventional loan with builders mortgage.

Once you highlight a couple of locations, pay attention to active inventory in the areas by going to listing sites and checking out properties for sale.

And all that inventory has just been sold off to investors for rental purposes..

With very low inventory levels due to covid-19, sellers have taken their homes off the market in large quantities.

For example in wildfire areas here, buyers aren't able to get traditional homeowner's (or rental dwelling insurance if an investor) insurance and conventional Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae loans.

I had to get a conventional mortgage instead. 

If you sell your current primary conventionally, you can take that 1.3M to buy a new primary with cash, then have the leftover to invest, but you won't have the income from the owner-carry note and your cash won't go as far on an investment property (>15% down) as it would on a primary (5% down).

While inventory can be tight, well-priced properties that are updated or renovated continue to attract buyers quickly.

This is my first time going non conventional.