Take that year to gain some financial literacy and find out what types of investments you're comfortable with, and find the right people to help you invest it.BUT, if you have piles of debt that you can't keep up with, don't wait a year to address those...

Modern builds and thoughtful rehabs sell quickly.Key ROI Factors:Strong rental market for investors who want to flip and hold.First-time homebuyers are flocking here for affordable entry-level homes with character.Pro Tip: Target small, outdated homes on larger lots to capitalize on backyard improvements or expansions.3.

Most investor utilize short term hard money debt to scale their flipping operations where the lender will fund 80+% of the purchase price and the rehab budget which can allow investors to work on multiple projects at once.

I assume when you say scale you mean rental props. so few ways.HML  get a good enough deal to rehab and then refi and get all your money back.owner finance/ sub to wrap with little down.

If you had a decent war chest of funds for purchase and rehab, the area could be good if you want appreciation for the next couple years. 

You didn't address your need for help in the eviction case, but it appears you may need an attorney.

If they can't do a money transfer directly to your bank, have them send a certified cheque using registered mail and signature required (they could send it to your work if you don't want to use your home address). 

Will they be prepared to address retirements and disposition?

However, you can be more comfortable with your offer if you can have your GCs do a walkthrough and provide total rehab estimate prior to making your offer.

@Miki SheinaizenI recommend finding local meetups to attend. https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521I have found all of my best connections at local meetups.For your BRRRR strategy, partnering with a local property manager and connecting with contractors early on can help streamline your rehab process, especially if you’re not local.