Quote from @Seth Rosellini: Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of your screen, and you can search for other MEMBERS or LOCAL MEETUPS.

Engage with local officers to gather insights about the neighborhood, and don't hesitate to ask them specific questions about the property.When touring, pay attention to tonality, body language, and hidden cues from sellers.

Look for a small/mid size local bank that specializes in this, they will detail what you need, survey, building permit, architectural plans and a builder contracted for starters.Or when you're ready to subdivide/redevelop you just sell to a builder and have them split the lots and transfer title to you for your smaller lot, he keeps the others and let him mess with the utilities and building. 

They're here locally in St.

For posterity:A local attorney (who is also a CPA and focuses on RE/Estates) did inform me that it would absolutely be possible and binding to create a lease option that would then just transfer to beneficiaries upon passing of the owner.

Locking up properties that will be hard to sell are a punch in the gut for the sellers so you have to step back and think, are these worth locking up or would the seller be best served listing with a local agent and getting out, without you in the middle.It sounds like these are ancillary to your territory and usual buy box and that usually means you don't need them.

Sometimes I'm off my numbers but generally speaking you'll get better as you go so consider this a cost of learning the business.If you want to find someone "reasonable" I'd go to local meet-ups and ask around for contractor recommendations.

Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of your screen, and you can search for other MEMBERS or LOCAL MEETUPS.

For the most accurate and detailed information, it's recommended to refer to local real estate listings and market reports or consult with real estate professionals who are active in these areas. 

Regarding loan terms changing after the appraisal was done most likely and the appraiser marked the property as being considered rural, is not something a loan officer can entirely know in advance if they are not local to the area.