It provides a lot of good information on how to get in good with those "vip" people I mentioned up above, and how to turn those zoning / coding violations into your favor. 

The saving grace for you is that a hard money lender is going to analyze the deal themselves, so if they won't loan to you, they are doing you a favor. 

Where would I look for solid information on which neighborhoods would be more favorable for rehabs?

When you have a true motivated seller then these deals become very powerful in your favor!

@Jonathan Safa , dual agency might seem like it works in your favor - the listing agent gets to keep both sides of the commission and will push the seller to accept your offer.However, that doesn't always happen, and if there is more than one offer on the table, the seller will typically go for the one with the highest net offer. 

It's in an industrial area and rates wouldn't be favorable.  

Upon graduation they became very successful brokers/flippers/developers -- and then TV personalities.I am biased in favor of BRRRR or Buy/Hold vs Flipping because of the passive income, tax benefits, and long-term overall rate of return.

So it's very important that you have an understanding of your creative financing options so that you as the buyer or seller and not the other party can use the correct or best way to structure the deal.My lessons favors the buyer and will first point out their best approach and secondly the sellers approach.

If I were purchasing a house to live in or rent, I would favor natural brick or natural stone or wood or hardy plank.

If you favor one season it is a bit easier.