NO lawyer is not the way to go here unless your a very sophisticated buyer.. and then why have a lawyer at all simply go to a good title and escrow company.

It seems that higher yields might require more sophisticated strategies carried out by the 'big money' investors.

The lodging industry is home to many renowned brands: names such as Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn and Wyndham have become indelibly linked to consumers’ perceptions of hotels.They establish service-level standards, and create clear expectations about an upcoming travel experience.

The GC will argue that you are in the business of flipping and so that you are a sophisticated investor who knows what you are doing.

If you are like me, left the corporate world after about 20yrs, I loved the aspect of investing in RE, even bought a handful of SFRs and duplex, fourplexes...learned a lot....but had I know I could invest w/experts as a passive investor and get returns equal to or greater than DIY investing, I would have got into large apartment investing earlier.If you are accredited, there are experienced folks that know how to find the right markets, deals, and execute essentially value add re-positioning of older apartments (like flipping but more sophisticated and over a 3-5 yr period).  

What I believe is the best strategy, is understand what her perception of her problems are.

I think the South Bronx has a lot of potential for greatness despite its historic perceptions.

That's not to say that education isn't needed to manage and preserve your assets or to increase your earning potential.So, my suggestion is to enter the real estate arena at a more sophisticated level than most do without money, an education or experience. 

I don't know that not asserting my rights was the right or wrong thing to do @Jon Holdman but I was too afraid that taking that position may give a perception of guilt, and I don't want anything to do with that.After thinking about it, I'm pretty sure the officer never asked me where I was when the incident took place.

However, depending on the county and how sophisticated they are, the data may be very stale.