I'd start shopping around for terms and building relationships sooner than later. 

@Sean DillonAt 18, you're in a prime position to start building wealth with low expenses and plenty of time to scale.

💪 Start by networking with local investors and wholesalers to find deals, build relationships with contractors and lenders, and analyze numbers relentlessly so you don’t overpay.Stay focused, take action, and don’t be afraid to learn as you go! 

You'd need to start working through a preliminary site-plan to validate your assumptions about the building area, parking ratio, drive-thrus etc.

Only with a definitive goal can you accurately assess your options.What I hear you saying is that you do want to build a rental portfolio. 

Since you’re building from the ground up, a hard money loan can be a great option because traditional banks tend to be slow and have stricter requirements for new construction.

Renting out one side can help offset your mortgage, which is a huge advantage while you're building financial stability.

Currently looking to beat $1800/yr for 2023 build SFH in Pensacola.

Trust and reputation builds and deals just flow from that...

Building on existing land helps eliminate the issue of land scarcity, which is a significant challenge due to California’s high real estate prices.