I am looking to sell it because I am going back to school and will be moving out of the state in the next couple of years.

Does not make them a scammer just poor choice of assets and probably not nearly experienced enough in the asset class to understand what they are really like or what they are doing.. as they are brand new to the space.

I came across a local developer who seemed to have a good reputation and a track record buying small to medium multi-families, doing some work refurbishing and repositioning the properties and flipping them in a couple of years.  

Thanks for sharing the details on your purchase I would be curious as well to see how the project went now that we are couple months out?

We decided to get the roof patched for now and got a couple bids from $3k to under $1k, since a new roof was over $10k and we wanted to do all that once after we foreclose with a 100% rehab loan.On top of this, our attorney discovered a release of mortgage was filed in the past, which is what made the homeowner believe there was no money owed.

Good contractors can be hard to find.Here is my advice.I have had great luck finding them at our local real estate investor meet up group.I agree building supply centres can also be a good source.In my experience it is easier to find people to do a big job, rather than small ones.What I have done is formed relationships, where I give them a good big contract and in return they do the small stuff for me.I also have a couple of handyman type people on my team.They are usually doing repairs on the side, often for cash under the table.I only trust the small guys with minor stuff, maybe laying a floor, or replacing a toilet.The key is to build a solid team, do not nickel and dime them, pay them as soon as the work is done.Build a win win situation.

Hoping to link up with a couple seasoned vets in the area for advice and guidance on my first endeavor.

We are into the property $65,000.There are a couple of ways I've thought about doing this:1.

I'd like a couple of recommendations for Sarasota, FL.  

I would like to try to meet up with you in the next couple weeks for a quick intro meeting over a coffee.