Find properties such as duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment buildings on BiggerPockets Marketplace and local listings.

I dealt with this for months until my inability to find a large construction company to build a double sided fire escape on this property forced me to sell it.

If I have a ground up build I paid cash for, can I use a DSCR loan to take a mortgage out on that house to build a rental home on a lot we have next door?

For SFH New Tampa is good if you're looking for newer builds, I also recommend Carrollwood and Citrus Park for SFH as well as the others I stated. 

Stay in the job and snowball all my mortgages and let life coast or get off a job still snowball slowly and live life slower.Initially, when I purchased my first apartment building 10 years ago, I did it because I was curious.

Not sure your strategy here but just throwing some ideas your way.Check building permits to see what's happening in town.

After one summer of STRs I came back in the winter took a first lean mortgage on the property to replace the roof (and build my RV which I plan on living in while renting in the summer).

You can offer to lend the seller money to stop the foreclosures. 7 or do a lease with an option to buy - making up the back payments that would be considered you advance lease payment.Always look at the property if you have intentions of bidding at the auction (this can be tricky because you need to do that with the owner's permission - do try to build a rapport with seller  - also look at the foreclosure suit to find out what the bank is looking for and if there is a second mortgage or other liens.At the court house steps when the auction take place you need to be well prepared with your certified funds but more importantly you need to know the fast sale value of the property - you don't want to pay retail.Get to know your competition - there will be professionals at the foreclosure auction looking to capture some serious equity.

I intend to build a portfolio of different property types.  

However, I would like to build connections and eventually start here in California.