I attend several of the local investor meetups around the Charlotte area. 

. $70k for a full gut renovation doesn't sound like much, depending on how many square feet the property is.Also, it might be worth finding another local investor in Lorain who understands the building court...you should be able to attend, tell them the story, and then find a creditable contractor to get this done or figure out what you could whole sell the property for so you can get out from under the stress.

A great way to start is by attending RE events and joining a local investors association.

I recently started attending local real estate meetups, which I found on the Meetup app.

You have come to the right place to begin your investing journey.Have you looked into attending local meetings and joining Facebook groups?

I can share with you some that I am attending if you're interested.Good luck! 

Connecting with local real estate investor groups, attending meetups and conferences, either in person or online, can give you advice + support as well!

Start attending any & all local REI meetings.

A great way to start is by attending RE events and joining a local investors association.

I haven't gone in person, but I've attended their more informal weekly zoom meetings and have found them insightful and fun.https://www.ocreic.org/