They are vested in your success if they are good at what they do.Of course, a $300 round trip ticket to verify the area certainly helps, but the area won't look too much different than the last google or bing maps show. 

When they went round the tree to pull out a couch, they were attacked by bees, and they left.

Its his direction to start rounding up money and credit cards that raises my suspicion.I like Dave Ramsey's book a lot.

(Which I am) He stated this was because it is easier to rent all year round rather than having 2-3 bedrooms which rent primarily when kids are not in school.

What I'm trying to get my head round is how I can use this cash for a down payment on an investment property.My current outline of a plan is this:Get the cash into my bank accountLet it season there for a couple months Use it for a down payment on a good cash flowing propertyFind a deal that ensures the cash flows enough each year to eventually give back whatever I use in 4 years timeGive back the cash back in 4 years, after 4 years, the cash flow I am now making is mine to reinvest.Now, the questions I have are:Am I right in thinking I would need to call this money a 'gift' and season it for a couple billing cycles? 

I will be back to my usual freedom today.A round or two of golf sounds good. 

I've done that, and we all end up frustrated with each other.Also, @Jay Hinrichs is corrrect - good contractors are busy year round, but we're INSANELY busy right now.

Until you have determined this is a potential deal, I recommend you do the due diligence yourself.  1, you will learn some things and 2, you won't waste $300+ on a dud deal.Once you get past the first couple rounds of due diligence and have a feel for when the sheriff sale is scheduled, or have been in contact with counsel representing the beneficiaries of the estate and are close to inking a deal....then reach out to a title attorney...or a real estate attorney that does not necessarily work for a title company.The last thing you want to do is run straight to an attorney every time you find an abandoned property.  

and finding good service providers for good prices would be easy for them.Sanibel is a tourist town with reliable year-round tourism.

He told me in advance, but when I went round he made a side comment that he could have got an overdraft to pay rent but that would have cost money.