The best first step you can do is get pre-qualified with a good lender, then start looking at and analyzing potential properties.  

Potential for additional rental income.Cons: Higher upfront costs for construction.

These considered, not sure the potential extra profit would be worth the hassle.

You're asking someone to spend a lot of time and energy to share what they've spent years - maybe decades - learning and developing.

This is because lenders are primarily concerned with the income-producing potential of the property when determining its value.In regards to your second question, it is possible to buy a property from yourself or transfer ownership between entities.

Flex space operates similar to a retail strip, but has a lot more tenant types to choose from.I am working on an off-market retail center in VA right now that is over 100,000sf with over 300% return on cash return potential.

The judgement you get from the court gives you the power to potentially collect.

@Joshua Postthere are lots of things you can do:-talk to a lender to find out how much you can borrow-find an agent and go look at 50 potential house hacks-reduce your expenses so you can save more each month-go to all of the local REIA meetings and find out what the other investors are doingjust because you haven't bought something does not mean you are in analysis paralysis.  

Most people looking to rent 3 or more bedrooms prefer a yard which means your pool of potential renters will be smaller.For SFRs stick with 3 or more bedrooms.  

Any insights or advice you can provide would be incredibly helpful as I navigate this potential investment.Thank you very much for considering my request.