Berkeley County, WV is growing very fast.

1,500 sqft is about minimum, lease fast, lots of turnover, always in demand

Assets tend not to fall or as fast when there is  a shortage. 

If you GC told you these costs then expect to go under real fast.

Are there other levels of escalation available to me that are fast?

I will be more diligent going forward when it comes to looking at properties in person, especially if it’s a person that has an interest at stake and are willing to pull a fast one on me.

He figured out instead of owning the fast food building, own the land underneath and land contract to franchisees. 

You will get dimensions, type, major features, etc. cheap and fast I always get them.The rest are either contained in a Table A or not needed IMO.

. $30k can turn into $8k or 0 really fast - whether that is due to unexpected costs - especially on an 1875 vintage home - or your ARV estimate being off.

Credit card readers don't need fast internet or a lot of data.