You might have good luck attending a local meetup or two to get face to face with other investors that are doing what you'd like to do. 

I see two other properties there one price at $1800 a month and the other at $2000 a month and both 3 bedroom 2 bath versus your 2 bedroom 2 bath property.

Give it two years and you might be playing in the 700k range 

We have a two family home.

Tenants were placed two weeks ago. 

I'm also from CA but down on the Central Coast, although I spent a good 10+ years in SF proper, Walnut Creek, etc.I primarily invest in Detroit and have been since 2019 (12-doors there now).

I've spoken with a few lenders about getting a construction loan for two lots we'd like to put investment properties on but I can't seem to find a lender that will do it.

All joking aside I spent two years on our local city's sign committee. 

It does not answer every question (are they under/overcharging, do they have egregious cancellation terms, do they have silly rights to sell your property, do they have two and half pages of ticky tack fees, etc.), but something has to go reasonably right for a PM to have 95% occupancy or greater on a several hundred unit portfolio, in my view.

The easier way is to establish a relationship with a portfolio bank (commercial lending) no limit to the number of houses you can own.Better yet, do something like what I do: I don't use banks at allAverage Cash Flow Per Door In Phoenix Metro Areahttps://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/600/topics/58...