Whichever method of lead generation you decide on, aim to establish and maintain a relationship with prospective sellers. 

After hearing about, and personally encountering some horror stories of disagreements between homeowners and contractors, I am wanting to establish a clear contract to use with a new general contractor. 

It was built in the 2010s and located in an established neighborhood with convenient access to schools, amenities, and major transportation routes.

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

You will need to compile a convincing case as to why the cities established maximum blockface density should be exceeded in this instance.

Within the U.S. if you want to avoid the bureaucratic nightmares that often follow STRs you will probably want to invest in a well established STR market that already has laws favorable to STRs.

Either would be a great option; I'd probably choose Roseville because it's more established, but the City of Elk Grove deserves a lot of credit for its impactful growth programs, so it wouldn't be a bad option. 

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

If you want to establish a long term relationship with someone who lives eats and sleeps creative financing and loan products - I recommend getting in touch with a well-versed broker who manage the relationship and introduce you to competitive products in the market.

@Landon Sheveland People do fix and flips while living into the property to classify the property as primary residence and not pay any capital gain taxes. if that is your intention, don't use LLC to establish this as your LLC.If your goal is different compared to what I said above, you can use LLC.