I have in my leases that any illegal activity could result in immediate eviction (by preponderance of the evidence, not by conviction).

Keep active in searching them out, we had a couple guys in our fire department that bought into the program and did very well.

Taking on underfunded investment properties can become very stressful financially and emotionally.Remember - if you decide to wade in now "Cash Flow is king" meaning it needs to cash flow when you buy it don't bet on being able to significantly increase the rent to improve cash flow.Good Luck!   

., but as someone with zero experience, would the single family lot be my best bet?

I bet they will market/sell your phone number.

Feel free to send me a message as I'm active in this space in the Houston Metro.  

Find a partner and bring them the deal, take a tiny cut, learn from them and actively repair your credit.

Sharnita Alexander I am born and raised south Baltimore and am an investor friendly realtor, I am an active buy and hold investor myself with over 10 years of construction experience.

Do your activities rise to the level of being a broker such that you need to get a license or else risk "brokering without a license" charges?

At this stage of your life/career, your best bet is to maximize your savings into liquid assets (ETFs should be you go to option - Vanguard, Fidelity or Blackrock).