As for your scenario, how many bedrooms would be ideal?

While I find this the ideal way to buy more properties it also stunts my growth and I tend to lose patients. 

A HELOC offers flexibility and lower interest rates, which can be ideal if you’re looking for short-term financing with lower payments during construction.

@Elvon Bowman Do you have an example of the ideal property or a price point?

We had an accounting system once that necessitated doing this - not ideal, but it keeps the assets and liabilities straight and AP is just an accrual until you pay the bill.

Ideally would be purchasing some land out there & using our building background to do something unique. 

Ideally, we'd like to acquire one or two duplexes that meet the 1% rule and provide us with $1,000–$2,000 USD per month after property management fees and other expenses.

Quote from @Miguel Del Mazo: Knowing more about the area, it sounds like you'll have an ideal avatar of wealthy, young and trendy professionals that aren't ready for or looking for a home to own.

That is less than ideal in some ways as well. 5.

To help support that avatar, try and have on-site parking and ideally a place where a large work truck can be parked without issue (think fully decked out F-350).