There are folks who will say you can, especially on an internet forum, but it comes with considerable risk and would be exceedingly complicated.

Michael, Your best bet is to partner with a builder and take a cut of the building portion.  

The internet is loaded with sites that lure people to pay for documentation through them and strategies for getting pets into housing under false pretenses.

YMMV.I bet there are some other folks on here that are more active than me can give you some good ballparks on what contractors are bidding labor at.

It's 2017 and everything's accessible on the internet if you look hard enough.

No attack on retail from the internet when you have DESTINATION type tenants. 

Also where do you think I should look for opportunities, ideally foreclosures or anything relative, as far as websites or any other internet source.

@Karsen Wynn Even if you find a part-time job, they are going to want a two year history of you having part time employment in order to give you credit for that income.Your best bet is going to be to go through a Non-Prime/Portfolio style loan where they are approving you like they would a commercial property - based on cash flow and some other metrics that do not require you to have income.

I think if they lived here in the US you probably follows the rules like you said, it passes to you with a stepped up basis but if they died in another country all bets are off, I have no clue.  

Like many investors have said it is very hard to cash flow in Austin anymore and your best bet is to get your return from the appreciation.Just 90 miles south you have San Antonio.