If I have a ground up build I paid cash for, can I use a DSCR loan to take a mortgage out on that house to build a rental home on a lot we have next door?

This builds equity while offsetting housing costs and how I started my real estate journey - house hacking.My advice would be to run the numbers on both scenarios, factoring in real estate goals, finances, and family needs.

I have invested in several single family houses in Baltimore using BRRRR strategy, it's been great.

So, had to drive an hour to the house to deliver an eviction notice.

I have a unique situation where an elder lady wants to gift me her house.

House-hack, house-hack, house-hack.

I'm chatting with a guy who has a 5/2 SF house in the Tampa Bay area and he's renting out 5 rooms on a month-to-month basis.

A friend of mine who still lives there said he couldn't believe how many houses are currently for rent in 5 points and Old Town.

That entire area is basically pure residential housing. 

They may be an emerging manager that is a great operator, but simply haven't been around very long, or it could be a very experienced manager with more acquisitions connections (and presumably good deal flow) than investor contacts, so needs to market to build that network to capitalize on the good deals they are finding.That being said, these "off market syndicators", as you call them, are like "off market houses".