@Robert Weissfeld so a couple thoughts. 1) using "pre-approved or mostly ready-to-go building plans" sounds good but people paying $3m for a home don't want a cookie cutter so it might not be a good idea to go that route.

I find a few comparable properties on Airbnb in each location I’m prospecting & pay my offshore assistants to track these properties every day for the next few months & record how much $$ they’re making.

Tampa, near the Base for 30 years and all my Tenants were Minimum Wage Slaves, without a Bank account, who could not pay the Rent if anything went wrong.

You are also likely to pay more for contractors and get a lower-quality install because you are not there to supervise. 

In Hawaii prices are high and if the price is under $500K you are probably going to pay 6% no matter what. 

It's key to keep learning, look into different ways to pay for places, and think about ways to share housing costs.

Owner builder, pay a home builder?

The BiggerPockets Find an Agent tool is pay to play, it has no relevance to whether the agent is good or has done deals or invests.

Do to the nature of oilfield work, my job pays me hourly + overtime.

Pete that is currently rented out to long term tenants paying below market rental rates.