Keeping in mind you're not making a decision for your forever home....Let me know if you need market specific insight. 

Those in other markets will not be impressed. 

You can also check Rentometer and Zillow’s rental listings for comps.Building a Team – Your agent is key because they’ll help you find properties that actually make sense.

Hard to understand your post but am assuming you are saying that the individual acting on behalf of the seller was assumed to be an agent but you are finding out they are actually a wholesaler?

I'm actually a real estate agent.

I invested it into marketing direct to seller in the Milwaukee WI. 

My plan is to build along the same type of home, but of course with some of my design inputs.I want to get a really solid foundation before any actual building happens and I would truly appreciate any advice that anyone has to offer of some preliminary items I should know and take care of beforehand.

(This actually happened to me in VEGAS.

By far your best bet are cheaper markets.

I did not see marketing costs, nights that you need to spend at networking meetings paying for dinners or memberships.