As an appraiser, realtor and investor in the Tampa bay market I'm still seeing +10% property value growth in most market areas with only signs of stabilization.

I am referring to rental rate growth over that time period similar to rent growth in LTRs.

If you weren't here legally and immigration hauled you off (or you decide to leave on your own), I would have no ability to pursue you for unpaid rent or damages.

You will want to have that ability.

Income is prob ~ $150k/yr not counting any margin we'd have if our OO 3fam was fully rented.How does one navigate this sequence of purchases without compromising our ability to borrow?

If they have no savings, the ability to provide an extra deposit is doubtful.

Love that corridor for growth.  

My concern is with a low downpayment and high monthly cost $3844 (PITI, HOA, PMI, utilities), this would limit my ability to ever rent out to a family if they don't allow individual leases with multiple roomates.

Hi Maritha, Start looking at the different trends (population growth, economy, job growth, unemployment rates, price/rent ratio, rent growth etc) occurring in each area.

Depending on your strategy and goals some good metrics can be; population growth, rent growth, income growth, job growth and job diversification.