The earnest money is what makes it a "secured interest" and I try to do it for the least amount possible (I've done it for $10 and/or $0).

DSCR is not low money down or low money into a deal.

Hoping things change🤞🏼I am involved in the community here and know first-hand the money and resources being thrown at minority-owned businesses from large local corporations as well as local community foundations. 

That’s telling him to leave money on the table.

You will then have a few options with that rent money....you can put it into principal or you can start saving it to purchase yet another property.

Hello, I've been thinking about future investments and trying to come up with different ways to raise the downpayment money for properties.

not 10%... not 25%... more like a 75 or 100% increase from purchase price usually.and as others have said you don't want to buy it with a DSCR loan - you want to buy it with hard money / bridge money and then refinance into a DSCR loan.using a HELOC for the down payment just puts tremendous pressure on you to boost the value. 

That leads you to the answer: What are you doing to find motivated sellers — people who are willing to leave some money on the table in order to resolve some personal problem or situation?

Could I hire someone to do the foundation, utility connections and framing, then do the rest myself to save money?

House-hacking would be a great way to start with little money down, while you're working on saving capital.