Knowing the price per square foot in a zip code helps and knowing when you can spot "value" is very important.

I just wrote up hot spots so the timing of your post is great. 

Look for local groups or online spots like BiggerPockets, and use social sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.

You're spot on about hiring overseas talent.

I’m not against it, just don’t want to put myself in a stressful spot with a monster mortgage if things go sideways.

Can someone help me with an idea or two of something we can build in place of the home we will tear down which can still honor family and the significance of the spot the home once sat on?

About 6 months into the lease, he thinks he smells smoke and climbs in the attic and searches for 3 hours for "hot spots" using a thermal imaging camera (keep in mind he is the town fire marshall),  finally after not finding any hot spots in the attic he goes to the back yard and discovers the neighbor is BBQing.  

San Antonio is an rich vibrant city full of affordable housing, tourist attractions (Alamo, riverwalk, sixflags, white water and more), military bases (Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, and Randolph Air Force Base) and surrounded by great suburbs (Stone Oak, Alamo Ranch, and the Dominion).San Antonio reclaimed its spot as the nation's fastest-growing city in 2023. 

You're spot on..usually 10+ or 20+ acres and rural can be a challenge for most lenders.

If you have natural gas to that spot for a tanked unit, swapping to a tankless is cake.Insulate the garage door if that isn't done.If you are local and handy, you can do a DIY mini split in there for under $1000.