Also, confirm market rents support your investment.

It goes to your preference, of course, but whichever can produce the greatest ROI should be considered.There are many markets in Michigan, for example, where it is cheaper to buy an existing house and fix it up than it is to build new.That may not be the case where you are at or through the construction suppliers and contractors you may have access to.To Your Success!

Goal would be to acquire 20 rentals by the age of retirement, with some already starting to be paid off.I am in the same boat as you, and I focus on safe appreciation all day (small cash flow for safety and then focused on markets on that appreciate). 

I'm not super familiar with the real estate market in Couer d'alene like I am with East Idaho or even southern Idaho or the Treasure valley.

Also, we're not getting anywhere near market rent for the home since its only half the home being rented, however we do feel that we're getting what similar efficiencies are getting in the neighborhood.   

Look at their marketing strategy.

I hear there's a recent case in Federal Court where an investor was found NOT GUILTY of violating anti spam laws because his text was asking to BUY a property, which isn't sales (which is what marketing is). 

I appreciate the encouragement—I'm excited to learn from and connect with investors in this community.Right now, I’m primarily focused on house hacking in the LA market, but I’m open to exploring out-of-state opportunities later in my career.

However, many states now require some version of a license to wholesale, so I'd identify a market first and then dig into their specific wholesaler requirements. 

I, too, am in Tampa and I've been a lender/banker and a Real Estate investor in the market since 1996.