Your explanation of events is long and a bit difficult to read (you may want to shorten to encourage more responses), but I would try to go over this person's head/chain of command and complain that they did not explain that the $100 was non refunadable. 

I encourage you to learn more about these transaction and what is approved in your state.  

I definitely encourage you to check out a lot of the podcasts they have on youtube as well Brandons book, tons of information all over the place here on BP.  

Very encouraging to me as well.

I encourage you to engage someone who knows about land development matters before you assume it can be easily (or financially feasible) to subdivide property and get all your permits and entitlements.

That's encouraging!

It's harder now to find good properties at the right prices but it absolutely can be done with diligence (maybe I shouldn't be so encouraging since you'd be more competition :) .

Any help or encouragement will be greatly appreciated. 

And the encouragement.

it has been something that i have been interested in for a lot of years but had no idea how or where to start... my in-laws have done some deals in the passed and have encouraged me into taking the 1st steps....