@Cathy Fitzwilliam There are some great real estate meetups in San Diego that are full of local pros and out of state investors. 

I paid $600k and got a local bank to loan 75% for 5-years at 3.85%. 

Alternatively, your GC can keep you posted on progress, but having a local project manager or even a trusted friend to occasionally drop by can provide extra peace of mind.Hope this helps, and good luck with your rehab project!

He kept in touch with local contractors, and one tipped him off about a homeowner who ran out of funds mid-renovation.

People trying to “wholesale” who lack knowledge of real estate principles, real estate law, the local real estate market, the market for the property type they’re trying to wholesale, etc, CAN NOT WHO;ESALE ETHICALLY no matter what they do.  

Been looking around North Conway its one of my other favorite spots to visit each year cozy little town with a lot of local amenities.

Hey Chris, a few thoughts here.Considering that office is not attached to the house, I wouldn’t add any footage to the total home square footage; however, you could advertise that office space and amount of footage and amenities in your remarks.If you’re a Realtor or are using one for the sale, your local MLS may have fields dedicated to additional footage for other buildings on the property, such as ADU’s.The other point is that typically, perhaps depending upon location, a space needs to have heating to count in the square footage, which this office doesn’t have if I understand correctly.Consider contacting an appraiser to inquire about how they would handle this space on an appraisal, or a Realtor.

It's really not that difficult, only takes an email or two to the local creditor's rights attorney in the state to get the ball rolling. 

Just call a local real estate attorney , they will draft up a note and deed of trust for you for a fee :)

Try some local real estate meetup groups in Houston.