The idea was that the buyer we were financing to would fix the properties up BEFORE moving in.

One of the investors brought the buyer to the table (my personal opinion was that the buyer did not have financing but I went along with it because that is what the investors wanted). 

I love the idea of fix & flip right now @Abigail King, especially right now here in Chicago and I am sure it is similar for you in central Illinois -- it's winter so there are way less buyers and if you can get under contract soon you can likely rehab over the winter months and hit the spring market!   

For owner occupied homes, the typical buyer is NOT analytical.

Just last month, from what I read in the Wall Street Journal, there’s been a growing interest in these more under-the-radar markets.. places like Casper that might not scream top-of-the-charts popularity, but quietly attract buyers who appreciate untapped potential.

Zillow Offers (home owners, buyers and investors to estimate property values quickly) 3.

I have a lot in East Rockaway, corner that I am helping the owner find a buyer...Trying to get more info on like zoning and how much you can build, Property shark has been useful in NYC but pretty useless in Long Island, can not even find basic info there, is there another website or resource I can use for more detailed property info?

Without getting too deep into the weeds, there are a few ways to do this, including:- write up an assignable lease and an option to buy which the seller signs, then assign the lease and option agreements to a tenant-buyer.

You need to study the IRS rule on First Time Home Buyer's.

Many people did that during the pandemic and most buyers in Tulum buy pre-construction.