Any pointers or advice on doing it in the area? 

At the end of the day; you need more money to do something like this.MAX LTV on new builds is 80% LTC, Meaning if the build is $550,000 and Land is XAdd ($550,000 + x ) * .8 = LOAN AMOUNTYou would need to come in with MINIMUM 20% of the cost in addition to closing costs and reserves, $80,000 is not going to cut it for this project.

I would get a couple of other opinions on the quotes that are coming in and what you are being charged.

Quote from @Roland Stone: Anyone on here get on board with Anderson Business Advisors?

@Nathan Gesner I like in CA, I’m scared of snow… unless I’m on a snowboarding trip!

At this point, I'm not so concerned about achieving that exactly, but if my REI journey takes me there on my way to (or even after) financial freedom, then I'm all for it.There's still some work to do to prepare financially for "the first deal" and that moment legitimately appears to be about 2 years away. 

I'm still in the learning phase and have read about a hundred different books on FI and personal finance.Looking for any resources that might help me on my way.

I am not able to take equity out of my condo because it is currently on the blacklist due to HOA fixing the roofing and a Fannie Mae rule stating, if more then 50% of the condos in that community are owned by investors, I may not be able to refi.

And when that someone else says the house, they will pay capital gains and depreciation recapture on the sale.

I like Hemlane, which is advertised on here.