http://portlandtribune.com/sl/345184-224009-shipping-containers-get-new-lifeThis is my long time colleague  we have developed quite a few subdivisions together.. shared a few airplanes as well.. great guy... he is really into these container houses.He has a 40 acre tract where he hopes to build a few hundred of them and put them on long term leases akin to a MHP.... he will retain the land sell the box.Great guy.. and supremely proud to call him my friend  

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the large builders buy large tracts of land 10 years or more before they build on them.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-california-high-housing-prices-20160414-story.htmlThe California Association of Realtors has predicted a mass exodus out of the Bay Area this year, either to more affordable surrounding counties (Sacramento and the Central Valley) or out of California all together:http://la.curbed.com/2016/3/4/11161626/california-housing-costs-migrationBoomers who are sitting on a ton of equity realize they can move out of the Bay Area to retire to live like a king somewhere in the Midwest and purchase their house cash, and Millennials are entering their prime "settle down" years and think $650k for a 1950's tract home is a joke and they can't afford it even if they wanted it.But, they can move to Sacramento and buy a $350k remodeled home in a nice area with great school districts and raise their newborn children.

I've checked many of the expected places like US Census, HUD, and city-data and haven't really found the level of detail I"m looking for, which is generally at the census tract level...but would prefer an ability to zero down a bit more too for one section of the city in particular.

A year later when the borrower tried to refinance, he was informed by the title company that he did not own a very small but important partial tract of the property.  

I would look for flippers with a tract record, maybe someone who can show you the numbers/pictures on his last couple projects.

@Michael Biggs yes there is another property owner on the other side of the RoW but they have access further up the road as it's a very large tract - nobody else is blocked since I am at the end of the road - literally.  

Freddie Mac has a 5% down 2-4 unit FTHB option that has income caps by census tract.

Also, as you pointed out, you can put down as little as 5% down with HomePossible, get a slightly reduced interest rate and Private Mortgage Insurance....as long as the property falls within a certain census tract. 

In my logging days.. we bought some pretty expensive Timber tracts and Tree Farms.. 2 mil plus.WE would write those folks. but we would have our attorney write the letter.... and introduce us as the buyer.. this letter got opened and read 100% of the time.. who does not open and read a letter sent from an attorney..