If you call it a Holding Deposit, you can keep it as damages if the renter fails to meet certain obligations.I would not agree to hold the property until they pay the money in full. 

I had 2 rental properties in Chicago (I dont live in neither).

That said, my guess is in entirely depends on the specific property and the value of the mineral rights.

As soon as you get an offer or 10 minutes before the buyer’s agent shows the property?

Some counties in Virginia loves them because they have little employment so no big population increase = more burden on schools and the tax basis is very high because of the personal property inside of them so they pay a lot in taxesAs you mention need to be near a power source and I spent 5 years trying to get one approved in 30 acre parcel that the county wanted the site for something else - so they can be challengingTo get zoning approved

I feel confident in property management, so I am ready to move to a different niche, what should my next step be?

I would much rather do it now before acquiring the properties than do it later. 

Between forced appreciation on general improvements on the property and the capacity to add an additional residential structure, the sky was the limit on value growth.

Currently I own a property in Sacramento with enough backyard lot that has Alley access and my current Mortgage is at a 2.5% rate and don't want to touch or affect it.I am in the process of considering a lot split with a plan to build a new doublex unit in the split lot with hard money or a construction loan. 

I am in the area there are good amount of properties here that definitely can be added value.