You could have a few things driving the cost:-Location - if the house is more remote the contractor will have higher costs to get out there (gas, lodging, limited resources) or if you are using a local guy he might be higher because he knows there are fewer competitors -El Nino - the roofers we use are all busy because people are rushing to get work done before the rains hit.  

Many markets outside of Orange County and out of state offer investment properties between $100K-$200K. 

This would depend on what types of loans they offer. 

I just signed up for BP to get access to resources in order to start investing in RE. 

If you wish to talk offline maybe I can direct you to some local resources.  239-223-9454

If anyone could help me get a mortgage or point me in the right direction, I would really appreciate it.Hello Rico,You could try to find homes where the seller is willing to offer seller financing or rent to own terms so you do not require a bank loan.We do a lot of creative financing deals in several different markets.Feel free to reach out with questions. 

Welcome to BiggerPockets communityIt is filled with resources and a plethora of knowledgeI wish you all the best in your real estate journey.Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you

Potential homeowners and renters are now prioritizing locations that offer better air quality and are less susceptible to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts. 

We are having a hard time finding tax professionals that offer tax strategy consulting as well as basic tax filing services.

I don't want to discourage you as anything is possible and the more resourceful you are the more advantage you'll have.