Step 2: Moved out, rented the 1st condo for $1800 per month.Step 3: Bought a new primary home in a LCOL for $175,000 which costs less per month than rent.Step 5: Moved out of the 2nd property and rented it for $1850.Step 6: Rented an apartment with somebody else.

I would like to start my REI and not sure how to move forward.

There is street access because it's a corner lot.This would be my first new contstruction....my plan is to sell my current home (family issues, forced to sell) and move into one of the units as a primary residence for a year or 2 before leasing it.Question is - What is the order of operation to start the project...   

When they move out, process it like there's no deposit.

Buy 4 more properties - one approximately every 3 months, based on the following logic = always fill existing property with a tenant prior to moving on (I'm new, and this is my way of managing risk); build resources to purchase next property (I have pretty decent purchasing power right now through conventional lending with my current job, and I also have a private lender ready to loan on my next property, and I also get a quarterly commission check that provides a nice financial bump every 3 months); finding a property takes time, but it is worth it to find the right property in the neighborhoods I want to invest in, at the right price.

Will he be moving out prior to closing? 

., we do have alot of CA people moving over here to Texas. 

Your tenants will either pay market rates or move in with family. 

Rental market in NYC moves pretty quickly and will be hard to coordinate from out of state, unless they're ok with their broker doing virtual face-time tours. 

If you flip to rent you will go more durable on finishings than you would to sell so you want to decide on that, but when you are done, you can see where you are at for sale vs. rent and decide, you would just have to move to traditional loan to carry it if you rent.