can you visit them in person? 

If that person want profit from each deal going along, you can make agreement with each deal you are doing. 

I probably will not renew with this person.2.

From personal experience, MLS deals are much less lucrative given their higher price points (typically).With respect to financing, you can talk to any of the hard money lenders on this site for different financing programs they offer (some are tighter with someone who has not yet executed a flip), you can take equity out on existing properties you have, you can use private loan from a friend or relative.

The person who owned it before me filed an affidavit of correction for a mortgage he had on the property and referenced an instrument number that had the wrong legal description.

You might go to the planning and zoning office IN person, don't call, and talk to planning staff. 

Would appreciate recommendations from this group for attorneys / law firms that specialize in such matters as well as suggestions on what I should / could do if you have personal experience with such matters. 

I doubt it's worth pursuing, but I'm mostly wondering if anyone has ever won. 

If you have doubts do not go with it is my adviceIt is a lot of money if you have second thoughts rightThere will be other deals in Gulf Shores ALFrankly it is not such that thousand people are waiting in line to buy there:)

Tacking onto what @John Koster said, the POS ordinances can be tougher in certain cities than others and the tax rates in the burbs can turn a dream deal into a nightmare rather quickly.I'd find a knowledgeable agent who also invests and work with this person to learn the areas and see what fits your investing profile.