it may be jurisdictional specific, but it would certainly limit the sources for providing credit reports.  

I recommend starting with multifamily if you're just getting started with limited capital.

With a Conventional Loan you can buy a SFH, Duplex, Triplex or Quadplex with as little as 5% Down if it is your primary residence as long as you have the intention of occupying one of the units for 1 year after closing escrow.This is the strategy I have personally implemented and have assisted many of my investor clients in doing the same. 20% Down is also beneficial as it keeps your payment low but it does limit your ability of buying more real estate faster.i would be more than happy to discuss the different strategies with you over the phone or in person.

Single family homes are usually the best as they have fewer limitations.

Some thoughts on your situation overall:In terms of vetting, I personally there is a limit to how much you can mitigate risks when working with a smaller contractor.

you might say something like, "I’ve been studying Austin and Denver for rental properties and have a $200,000 price limit—what are the pros and cons of both markets?"

The type of property can influence the risks you face, so coverage limits matter.

So my limited experience with a new build did not yield cap ex expenses with what you are proposing. 

What if they build just outside the city limits, so they are not paying city taxes?     

That was fun.Because of this setback limiting my ability to leave my house, I sunk more time into my YouTube channel where I’m seeing exponential growth and am on pace to make over $6k this month from ad revenue alone.Life is good.