While I dont know for sure that they would burn it, it is in between 2 fire jurisdictions, one being a 50/50 department (half paid and half volunteers) and the other is completely volunteer and I dont see them turning down the chance to burn a building for fun.

So since my time is so fully used up, I thought I'd volunteer for two hours a week helping an experienced investor.

I'll give my standard advice about quickly becoming an insider in good standing in a small town:  join the volunteer fire department.

I like to think opportunity is everywhere and you just have to find it.Thanks for sharing Matt,I'm still waiting for a good candidate to show me the outskirts of Detroit.Although a long way away from any recovery IMO, I'm an optimist and would love to expand our business into Michigan within the next years...Any volunteers?

I would advise you begin to make connections there as well.Another thought on this project is, can you volunteer to be part of the rehab effort either for pay or free so that you can learn about what it takes to perform this kind of work and get a birds eye view of the standards this other investor operates by??

The most important factor not volunteered in your question is: Do you or your partner have other assets of value?

Some smaller volunteer managed hoa(s) tend to run the community like their personal kingdoms and ignore the rules and laws.

Volunteer to work on a habitat for humanity house.  

I want to volunteer my time to help them sell their listing as fest as possible while a the same time building my database of potential buyers/sellers.

A good strong offer and the ability to close is what it takes.[2] And with Pics some people might be more inclined to sell to black family (or some other race) (to "feel" like they are giving them a hand up--illegal too)///look at all of the volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and such--they never come out and swing a hammer for free for me.