We are trying to motivate our Generation Z children learn real estate investing earlier than we did, and help them buy their first home / investment property.

if you can build at 50% of after value I'd hire you and I build the cheapest of anyone I know in our market and minimum rates. there's 3 builders that build at our rate. only place I can get us to 50% equity is in miami florida and that is new construction that is selling at $1000 per square foot and up and high density 300+ unit underwriting with incredible economies of scale. columbus has lower construction costs but lower exit. we focus on urban core. my best suggestion is look at urban not suburban for higher valuations. you can't control what new construction appraises at so do it in less risky areas. 

LOL Jokes aside, it sounds like it's incredibly difficult to find something with good cash flow in Columbus, so my thought right now is to start in Cleveland for cashflow, then once I build a stronger porfolio I'll start adding Columbus

Also, any advice on finding and working with contractors would be incredibly helpful.

These are incredible insights and a lot of the things I have heard from everyone I have met in this industry. 

If you told him you have been playing pickup games for the past year and need help improving your jump shot, now he has evidence you're motivated and a specific goal he can quickly help you work towards.

I'm tired of wasting so much time on dead leads.. does anyone have a good way to get decent leads of high motivated sellers?

Well it DOES make sense in two other important ways:1) it's an incredibly strong incentive to pay your taxes....2) covers the risk that you don't get paid.

I have always been incredibly intrigued by real estate.

No no no,Lists can't target motivated sellers.