I do prefer EDEN, they are about 2 weeks Done.

Anyway, you mention you've "developed a strong foundation in market analysis, design, and project management", which are all important in the development space.My question, what areas do you feel you are lacking and are either trying to develop those skills yourself, or you'd prefer to bring someone onto your "team" that would provide that expertise? 

Their explanation is that the banking service they use (Thread Bank) and their agreement with Stripe (payments) leaves them with no choice but refund if such a request is made, even though they have records of the tenant authorizing payments via their own platform.

I don't go above 70% generally and prefer mid or low 60s. 

If you ask me, I would much rather prefer investing in my local markets or at least somewhere I can drive to.

Our biggest challenge is that we are not over 55+ and we would prefer to invest our money in the villages itself.

Some prefer to rent.

The majority of buyers appreciate the expertise that a good agent provides (local market knowledge that can only be gained by being active in the market buying and selling all the time, looking at most of the new listings in person or at least online daily, a background in or at least understanding of building construction, relationships within the network of professionals in the industry doing deals, vendor referrals, legal protection through E&O insurance and keeping up with constant changes in approved contracts and required disclosures and forms, negotiating skills (the average person is terrible at negotiating directly and has no desire to, I find Americans are uniquely averse to negotiating and prefer to outsource it but I digress), etc.).

If you have any other resources (preferably free) to analyze properties, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Good luck to all of us = )   Actually I'm a partner with 2 other seasoned note investors and we have our own Reg D equity fund that buys 1st position NPLs and RPLs with a preferred return and profit split to our investors.