That will likely be more time intensive.

Hopefully things work out well.

We would like to keep the rental property, and I just started to research how this would all work out.

You can absolutely use that to lower the price of the property, especially given the more intense hurricanes and rain patterns that are predicted.  

I am very excited to create the reality where I can put the right pieces together to make deals that work out great for everybody involved.I am 32 and live in the Bay Area. 

@Jane A.Wow that's a pretty intense question.Firstly, fire stuff - make sure you're going through local inspection processes, as needed. 

After intensive information gathering here on BiggerPockets, however, i am no longer sure whether this is the most suitable strategy to really grow in the long term.I would really appreciate it if I could talk to you guys about my plans in more detail and to hear your opinion.

Keep them vacant and work out creative financing, either via bridge lending or try to ask for seller financing?

I've made some investments in a rush and on impulse in the past that didn't work out so well.

They bring a wealth of experience to the table and they speak to situations where things didn't work out... to the reality.