. - you have dozens of local agents who can market the property for you and bring you a buyer- you are listing in a desirable area with low-inventory - you are not in a rush to sell

Check with local credit unions.  

Maybe he does file a nuisance mechanics lien (whether he can and precise procedures) will be dependent on local law.

Account Closed is our local expert and am sure can strategize a plan for you. 

I actually close on most of my land deals; however, I do represent some local flippers in the areas so the strategy doesn't shift.

Once we finally got the tenant out; we sold to a local investor who was planning on using it for his business.

As an owner-occupier, you can pay more than an investor would, but as I said above, you are going to be a little hamstrung in return rents unless you can get 3 other units and then that is a do you want to live with three tenants that close when you have two kids.Find some local real estate investor meetups in the area and you will meet a lot of house hackers who can tell you their stories.

Many of them OOS, because the some of the locals know a little better.

I am wondering if my first steps (past the education part) is to build a network of people who know, like, and trust me through posting content like newsletters, articles, podcasts, doing webinars, going to events (aka build my brand), or, should I first find a deal and then raise capital?

A close friend of mine worked with a client who snagged a few acres just outside of town near the North Platte River.. it didn’t show up on the usual listings, but popped up through a local contact who’d been hinting at a seller looking to keep things quiet.You mentioned it’ll be a three-year timeline.. that’s actually not a bad window.