Your concern as to why the home was not picked up the first time is valid but nothing to worry too much with.  

Just pick his brain.

If inflation picks up, 4% is going to be pretty nice.

Spent the day picking the brain of the seller and team that I'm working with, so that alone was valuable.I would recommend that any out of state investors make a trip out, to meet the team and get a feel for the area.

With specific finishes, you have to pick them out at your big box stores, and build a "finish schedule" or specifications page, then bind it to your contract.

Most will not pick up the "recorded deeds" and none will pick up a "non recorded deed" or the various other ways the owner may have transferred his ownership interest to another.The mailing may be worth a try, but there are better ways to invest in Michigan.

Is there any builders on here that I can shadow, or pick their brain?  

I would love to get advice from individuals on the best way to pick these contacts up.

And if you cant even pick out a decent realtor, how on gods green earth are you going to pick out a good contractor, electrician, roofer, etc?

They may have sold them for dirt cheap to the listing agent/ part owner if I had to guess.I'm planning on picking up a buy and hold.