If I were going the direct route, I’d research the 20 largest developers in Michigan and approach them about an intern position.

If you are going with a beach property, get the largest house you can afford on the beach rather than 2 smaller off beach. 

However I’m shifting plans and am about to switch to a different market in order to try to scale my portfolio as the largest property I can buy where I’m located is a 4 unit and I’m ready to go bigger now.

The valuation and market value of a multi family property differs from a single family and you want someone that understands the distinctions if you go that route.

Construction is one of the largest challenges these days in running your rental portfolio. 

Texas is an enormous place with a number of distinct markets.

Small house made a little nicer and you get good quality tenants all day and great resale potential to the starter home and downsizers, two of the largest buying population out there.  

One worked out great (largest dollar amount we made on a deal), and one we lost money, almost to the dollar of the interest expense we paid to the lender.In my limited experience, there are some online crowd funded lenders. 

Equifax has a minimum of 1500 accounts you must report on monthly basis - leaving only the largest landlords to be able to do this.

Our goal is to move into the 3br unit (most space, largest deviance from market rent: ~$2100) but the current tenants have been there over a year.