I have done several of the things you have mentioned in your post.

Also like Matthew mentions above, each city/state has their own zoning and codes, working with a knowledgeable developer in the areas who would also help you install the container homes would help tremendously imho.

Don't let the posts scare you, I think you mentioned you want to hold and rent, good luck and let me know if you have any questions along the way on D&C side of things. 

You mention your looking at Tampa - is that where you currently are?

Plus, the homes near me are very expensive, I don't plan on doing live-in/rent-out.I spoke with a family friend, who has worked as a lawyer on real estate deals, and she mentioned that I'll be 'missing out on first-time home-buyer' perks if my first purchase is a rental.Could someone shed some light on what these perks might be?

I see you are in OC, I am in the central valley as @Jo-Ann Lapin mentioned.

They're offering $43,000, after all fees.As mentioned before, the current mortgage balance is $99,000.

This is the time to build skills that will keep you from wasting that money you're saving.Also, you don't mention what your strategy is, but whether it's flipping or buy and hold, you're likely going to have to deal with renovations/repairs with any property you acquire. 

As Hadar mentioned the smell could get pretty nasty. 

I've read over forty books on real estate investing in the past two years and "What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow" is the only one that even mentioned IRR.