Loan amount is essentially unchanged since the loan is just under 2 years old.I thought the lending process was absolutely obnoxious last time around so I was wondering if anyone had any good referrals or recommendations.

“Money goes where money is treated best.”Your future ability to attain and maintain financial freedom depends on the city where you invest.Investment TeamAn essential location selection criterion is an experienced local investment team.

But a lot of these builders want to roll up and start putting sticks on the ground, so they want to see essentially everything ready to go to the city/county for approval before they sign on. 

Sellers rarely mind the low deposit and extended closing period due to the nature of the property, or at least they can be made aware of the fact that their lot has issues that will take MY time and MY money to solve and then they come around.My terms on the flip are: Minimum 10K spread between purchase and flip value.  1-2K deposit upfront to hold the property for 7 days then the deposit becomes non-refundable after the 7th day and the buyer has the same amount of time that I originally negotiated with seller typically 8-12 months(its a purchase contract but because of contingencies its essentially an option).  

Higher property taxes can eat into your profits, so it's essential to factor this into your calculations.It's worth asking yourself if you'd want to live in the markets you're considering.

This property was in rough shape, so I tackled the essentials: new roof, plumbing fixes, and updating the interior to make it livable again.

This property was in rough shape, so I tackled the essentials: new roof, plumbing fixes, and updating the interior to make it livable again.

Very plausible given that this event marketing company is essentially unknown prior to this "event" they've got 37 likes on Facebook, pretty underwhelming for a "marketing company" with press credentials. 

Are there any other real estate investing books that the forums would consider essential to a first time investor?  

Working with a CPA experienced in real estate transactions is essential here.If I were you, I’d call some attorneys on Monday if this is something you’d like to move quickly on.