He looked into the online portal and said the build permit will be expiring soon.

One of the biggest mistakes I encountered in years doing remodels and builds was when a customer wanted to do their own painting to 'save a few bucks'.It was a disaster - every. single. time.A pro painter is a huge plus to the finish fit and feel of any project, they are just too good.

You can do that as you build cash and your experience.

You also are required to put 25%-30% down and larger reserves are required and the building itself can cause issues if it has vacancy ratios.

It's a great way to build a cash vehicle that you can tap into at any time and the money will continue to grow for you even while you're accessing it.

Finding a loan officer who comprehensively understands their underwriting guidelines and the nuances of real estate investments can significantly streamline the process and set clear expectations from the start.In many cases, lenders operate in a structured manner where loan officers initiate the process and then collaborate with processors to gather necessary documents and address any underwriting revisions promptly.

Are people building in the area? 

I have additional space on the lot where I think that I could build an additional duplex or maybe two small single family dwellings.

So, without getting into the weeds, you could buy a fourplex, then build 2-3 ADUs for rental income.

You could probably live for free, build equity, and save more for your next purchase!