If an apartment sat vacant, I wouldn't be able to justify it because they're still renting like crazy.

It depends on the box size, where it is at location wise and demographics, site lines, access with cross traffic, and if dark but current tenant still paying or totally vacant.Smaller box sizes usually have a long list of tenants waiting to go into the spaces in strong markets.

And dont rent the apartment or house that you love, because it is too much and you will stay there for a long time.

We are pushing houses and apartments now knowing we have about 5 weeks

It sucks but sometimes they fall apart, go get the next one!

Buy a duplex/triplex/quad and rent the other apartments to your parents and/or brother.

So, Decide which kind of investor you want to be (SFR, Commercial, Land, Tax Liens, Passive, HML, Multi-Family, Notes, Fix & Flip, Buy & Hold, "Subject To", apartments, duplexes, assisted living, REOs, Foreclosures, Short Sales), etc.

How do I get access to land/lot public records like these?

Despite having a solid track record of analysis and execution as well as the ability to personally guarantee loans due to a fantastic W2 job, I am struggling to raise capital apart from banks.I would really appreciate some insights from those of you who have felt this same frustration.

But duplex is not way apart from SFH.