I imagine the trend will land somewhere in the middle--maybe with an island or breakfast bar (or something new like a work-from-home "breakfast/desk"?) 

If so, you may be able to buy the land and do the build first and then do the exchange afterwards.

Right now, builders are coming to me trying to help me find land, etc.  

The U.S. is in much better shape and we still have a hot job market with high consumer spending.

This will be my first time buying land.

What made my investor interested in this deal was the fact that the land was coming with all the plans and permits.

Seller was in La La land to begin with. 

I'd look at way more than one piece of land.

Hey All,I have a background in Civil Engineering working for around 40 years doing land development, floodplains, and waste management work, among other things.

My issue is with the ones who don't do any research beforehand to ask a better question.A new person asking about house hacking a multi vs. a mother-daughter is a great question, and they have narrowed their scope and are doing the work.A new person asking how to get into investing is just being lazy and hoping for a Doug Flutie hail mary to land in their lap.I think of it as, how do you want to show up and appear to other people, in any forum?