The complicating factor is that I already own the land where the new property would be built, which would exclude any improvements from 1031 exchanges. 

Get into flips and into lending because if you lend, you're going to end up in a situation where you are in an asset that's improved as it's flipped because you buy, renovate, and flip.

I’m trying to buy a home from my in-laws and there selling the home to me for 100k the house value is worth at least 200-250k or more, and I plan on making improvements.

Many capital improvements, improved appearance inside and out.

I've also welded a broken top link on a bush hog with 3 car batteries and jumper cables in the field.

I thought hopefully the part-time job would help improve my odds of getting a loan through a bank.

I would love to talk with you off-line I’m looking for deals and I’m in Texas as well and I could sure use any sort of skill improvement. :-) 

For long term we would have to start with budget as that will dictate what areas we look in, cash flow is going to be tough to find anywhere near Orlando, appreciation and doing value add improvements will go a long way pretty much anywhere within an hour of the city.

They may also require batteries to start or manual lighting.

@Brandon Fuhrman I’m sure some of the others will chime in but it would seem to me that the smartest thing would be to keep that account open and use it periodically and pay it off, improving your credit, and get the bank to open the correct business credit card for you.