@Krystal Lozano,Building a portfolio to a 6 figure is definitely a long game. 

Going in, I have a HELOC that I can draw about 60k from my primary and then 25k in cash.  

Stuff I've Looked At & ConclusionInitially, I thought of looking into the foreclosure game.

This could be an opportunity to add value by offering to help with clearing or relocating those items as part of any potential agreement.Why This Could Be a Good Move for YouYou see long-term potential in the property, especially with the large lot and development possibilities (even if those are years down the line).As the current tenants, you have the advantage of a direct relationship with the landlord and familiarity with the property, reducing competition and risk.This could be a chance to lock in a property that you might otherwise lose if it hit the open market, especially in today’s competitive environment.Challenges to ConsiderIf the landlord is emotionally tied to the property or reliant on rental income, they may be reluctant to sell.Financing could be tricky, especially with today’s interest rates and the gap between the current rent and what a conventional loan might cost.The development potential you’re interested in is likely a long-term play, which means the property could be financially tight in the short term, especially if you’re only breaking even or slightly negative on cash flow.Structuring a Potential DealTo make this feasible, you’ll likely need to explore creative financing options that align with both your financial capacity and the landlord’s goals.Seller Financing: Propose a deal where the landlord acts as the lender, allowing you to make monthly payments directly to them.

You find this out by talking to people, speaking with past residents, people in the industry, or mystery shopping the property.Using technology to pull in data so you don't have to manually type it in, is helpful, but other than that, I would not trust automation. 

I’m brainstorming ideas on how I can market myself to potential mentors in the STR game in order to gain experience.

A good way into it may be doing a house hack or live and flip then pulling the equity out in a refinance.Tons of ways to make money in this game!

Real estate is a slow game, but over time, it can help you build significant wealth.

You already have a pretty solid portfolio, so adding another property and generating more cash flow might accelerate your wealth in a way that the Roth can’t match, especially if you’re planning to transition to real estate full-time soon.The long-term game for you seems to be building that cash flow and equity in real estate, and it sounds like taking the hit on the Roth 401(k) could be worth it for the immediate returns.

Currently, I have a weekly check in with my current contractor, but alot of time it is a chasing game.