I am just starting out here in South Carolina looking to network meet a community of like-minded individuals.  

@Paige Gardner HM is a great way to get started however understand that it is SHORT TERM FINANCING 6-18 months. 

Yes. build to rent in urban core adjacent neighborhoods. traditionally in our market in Columbus Ohio existing inventory was good 2014-2020. as prices rose, the cost to build started to match existing inventory prices because of supply shortage, especially for 2-4 multiunit dwellings. around that time we started to look at new construction and land. we found that land is a 12 month or more supply in our market which makes it a buyers market and you can design any structure you want in new construction. if you like a layout or floorplan all you have to do is design it. after that we looked at the right unit mix and Floorplans and layouts. we started looking at high rent per square foot layouts that were better than single family.

I stuck to it and it has treated me well over the years.I did not start investing ( other than buying a home to live in) till many years later..

We are considering investing in Houston as foreign investors (from Belgium), our goal is to find and start with a long-term rental single or multi family home. 

Regardless, start with zoning.

If you plan on living there, I would pick the place you want to live, then start investing.  

Great question - start the refi process now while you're working on getting it rented.

Eventually you get enough properties that they can start buying themselves.

My second house was under contract before it was even listed, but the combination of my GC disappearing and having to restart the permitting process for the carport in March right at the start of Corona lock downs dragged that out and eventually feel out of contract.