However, I live close-by (30 minute drive), recently retired from my day-job, and if the loan is not too large, I might be willing to do a deal just to learn a bit more about another side of RE.  

No you don't need a license for those jobs.

I personally recommend checking Columbus OH - lots of job growth, population growth, and major companies moving and developing here.

Good luck getting that info from the guys who don’t speak English who cut down your trees for $1200. lol Not many people follow rules on anything, so?

All of that is pretty cut and dry. 

Public has little desire to see them cut and GOP has no desire to increase funding for this. 

So it would cut down dramatically on your time, effort, and headspace.

I'm thinking I can get a nice purchase price if I under cut the banks by 1% and offer 15% required down as opposed to the traditional 20%.

Yup, I think if hired someone to do a job, that they have an obligation to do that job to fullest.

At the end of the day; you need more money to do something like this.MAX LTV on new builds is 80% LTC, Meaning if the build is $550,000 and Land is XAdd ($550,000 + x ) * .8 = LOAN AMOUNTYou would need to come in with MINIMUM 20% of the cost in addition to closing costs and reserves, $80,000 is not going to cut it for this project.