While a single stall garage might be only a ~10k adjustment on an appraisal depending on your local market, the lack of garage can kill market value which is harder to predict.

Because wholesale deals are not something advocated by your local Realtor assn.

Local planning department.

It's a great way to become more knowledgeable on your local investors and create your team while you're getting started.

Outside of a electrician and a plumber do I need to hire a general contractor to oversee me while I work?

This is a horrendous idea for a young person who knows nothing about landlording and pre-supposes you can get a property first.Spend the last time in college learning and going to local meetups.

Work with the city and local brokers to identify the exact product type to meet the housing needs of the area.

Go to a local convenience store, see what kind of people live there. 

And the huge upshot is that I will be there in person living in one unit to ensure stabilization is smooth, and staying local (living 10-15 miles away but probably using it as an office weekly) for years to come.

Building on a lake requires experience with the locale and building regulations.