My son (age 24) however, is an independant contractor / self employed and is trying to buy a house. 

Sri,Are you a General Contractor/Builder or are you simply looking for financing to build a 2-4 unit?

I should also mention we shut off the breaker (to the garage) after confirmation from two electricians and our contractor that we had a serious fire risk.   

---FYI: licensed contractors in our area charge $95-$125/hour.

If you have any contractors ask them if they know of any properties for sale.

Is it wrong they tell the investors if asked to say they are "partners", or "contractors" just bidding the job? 

What if partner A brings down payment and partner B will act as the contractor but not do any of the work themselves.

Looking for in country contacts banks, agents, contractors, recommended areas, etc to prep for a productive visit.  

First, it fast-tracks your learning as an investor - you are forced to develop better time management skills, build your network of reliable contractors/ handymen, etc..Second, when you are ready to transition to a property manager, you are well equipped to evaluate and hire the right company.3.

What exactly happened with your contractor that went sideways?