We are in almost an identical situation.

I am a contractor myself so I don’t want to steal your rockstar contractor, just strictly want to network and maybe learn something from them.

(This requirement might sound silly, but you'd be surprised what people will take with them when they're foreclosed on, and what vandals will steal from a vacant house.)AppliancesAnecdotal evidence suggests that the FHA requires properties to have working kitchen appliances, particularly a working stove.

I'm not finding any steals out there, but if you crunch the numbers, like you said, a deal will happen.

It appears from the FEMA flood map overlay on satellite image that much of the wetlands is planted with pine, meaning more of the usable/build-able land is clear while still growing pine for profit on all the 'useless' land.I've found a nearly identical 40.0 acre nearby sold comp for the raw land, down to nearly identical ratio of wet to dry land.

Wholesalers steal equity of the homeowners.

All are rented and the price per home works out to about $22k each which is a steal.

But the one many don't consider is theft, whether it's from contractors stealing materials, or someone breaking in and stealing tools, materials, or just simply vandalizing the place, causing delays. 

When I saw the house photo I instantly knew this was Houston, TX.I had an identical deal, BRRRR turned Flip, this past summer in NW Houston. 

Right now we are only buying steals or to use 1031 money.