I was recently given an end date for my current job (I'm a contract engineer so it happens).

He gets back to me with a "discounted" bid from his internal architect and engineer of $2 sqft to get everything done.

I am a Pittsburgh native and recent engineering grad from Carnegie Mellon.

It seems that not paying your rent can get things moving pretty quickly, but understand that there is also a robust defense system here in the county.  

There is a robust market then.  

I have briefly looked on here, Bigger Pockets, and other search engines.  

Any offer you put it make it contingent upon and inspection and get a structural engineer review it (not a home inspector) - note have a home inspector review the rest of the house as well

My father built houses and sold them, sometimes up to three at a time, while working a job as a civil engineer when I was growing up.  

You could always go private money if you -really- want to go there, but if you are "new to the game", then I'd heavily advise you against brand new construction without either a construction or engineering background or if you are heavily banked.At 80-100k equity, you could turn that into 135-170k of buying power with bank financing at around 60% LTV (I'd be conservative if this was your first time going at it to make sure you will cashflow and establish that to keep working with your banks).

My mom actually works for chobani and says there are engineers on three month wait lists for rentals.