you need to get out in the field and start looking at properties in personmake you a cut sheet of repairs and what the comps are in the areas you are lookingafter you have looked at properties in person youll have a better idea of what to ask a listing agentmost properties you can evaluate on line with the tech we have today butyou still are not going to know about the properties unless you put eyes on the propertywhen your at the properties ask the neighbors about some history of the property, who lived there how many kids did they have how many cats did they have ect...when you finally get to the point you are ready to make a deal then call the listing agent and ask questions- be personable and down to earth, have a conversation then youll be able to get the answers your looking for and a reasonable sense of the process of getting the property under contract and boughtenjoy 

welcome aboardthere is so much cool stuff and really down to earth people on the forumsyoull have a great time getting answers to your questions and meeting peopleget involved with the local real estate group and see how many folks are on this siteyou have a really cool plandon't forget about the availability for funds through the grant programsenjoy

Land development is very expensive by nature, depending on the upgrades to the facility (permits, earth movements, storm drainage, utility services connections, county and city fees, sanitary improvements that the city may assign with your improvement, permitting, storm water pollution fees and costs, roads improvements and parking lots requirements, etc.)  

@Jay Hinrichs a winter in Leadville is about as close to hell as we have here on earth unless you live in Wyoming where I grew up.

Why on earth would you want to put cash into something and have to work like heck?

Just through google earth and google maps.  

Also, if you can, try Google Earth, there is a clock you can turn on and look at different dates, like a history back from, well, depends on the city.  

Drive (google streets and google earth) the neighborhood and see what others have done. 

Instead, do what I did, (granted, it was 25 years ago and, no, dinosaurs no longer roamed the earth).  

I have only seen photos and google earthed it.