Right now I'm exploring two paths for my first investment property (besides my OO condo): 1. use my 30k toward a residential property and build slowly. 2.

Explore your options and decide the best course for your situation.i have burned a house before (actually had the fire department burn it for me) but I had to make sure it was vacant first.

Also, from many of the threads that I have read Wholesalers don't have a good reputation because of the many negative experiences that the Investors have had.

I am a furniture designer from Milan (Italy), currently living and working in New York.I love very much to travel, develop my projects and live my life at 360, and I have been looking for a while for a way to become financially free and to make more money out of my time.I was happy to find Bigger Pockets in my search.I will start learning from the basics of real estate investing, working hard and hopfully having some fun, I look forward to explore the forum and to know many of you. 

I've spent some time here on BP reading articles and exploring the site and its GREAT!

Explore seller-financing strategies - many sellers will agree.

It's also considered a block by block city, so it will be critical that you link up with someone that is reputable and understands the area.

many development projects are financed with institutional money, and bringing equity partners in a deal is lots more expensive and lots of troubles for nothingIf your project makes sense, are decently capitalized, work with a reputable architect and builder and know how to pitch a project to lenders, you don't need to bring anyone in the deal but the bank and a hml.If no lender is interested in your project then it only means it is not feasable / doesn't have a reasonable risk/reward ratio and you should probably move on 

I am looking for reputable hard money lenders for buy and hold  properties in Florida

I'm always looking for opportunities and exploring other options.