I believe builders and landlords do the country a service. 

If you do end up going the regular rental route and want to self manage, check out evict.com which is one of the premier landlord/tenant attornies in the country.

I am just curious about out of state / out of country investing.

If you have no US credit, lenders will want to verify to credit trade lines from your country of origin for the past 2 years.

I'd be happy to run the numbers and cross-check for you.

I’d love to get this group’s thoughts on what to do with 3 acres of undeveloped land (no septic, no water) in the Texas Hill Country that I plan to eventually pass on to my children (read: never sell because it’s family land).

Do people from around the country retire to southern CA?

I find it difficult to step into foreclosures since, in my experience, books and courses I've crossed by are very surface level. 

I’m a lender in TX and all across the country. 

Both parents were immigrants, I owned a small business that I worked hard at, saved up my money and invested it.Actually most millionaires in this country are first generation.