I've got a million posts about it. if you have specific questions I can help with let me know. you can't really compare cost per sq ft without a construction set and finish schedule as a general contractor.

This will be a major expense, so I want to make sure its worth it compared to other options to spend my money. 

One method is to research the fair market value of the property and surrounding properties to compare that value to the estimated cost of repairs, cost of any liens, and cost of any judicial action needed for eviction. 6.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

The best thing to do is to build up a strong team with an investment specialist realtor / broker, property manager, contractors, inspectors, lenders, title companies, ect. 

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Look for hard Money for %80 of each property, then do a cash out refinance and pay the hard Money Lenders.

After that step, they should be fine with signing a Quit Claim Deed to you.No lender is removing anyone from an existing loan.

After speaking with a local realtor and lender for quite some time to just get some information, they advised me that we are currently in a "buyers market" compared to a "sellers market."

I have databases consisting of 1,341 lenders for RE as well as close to 20,000 contacts at family offices, hedge funds, endowments and pension funds.