So for instance, for a home that I can sell retail on the market, I can fetch $90K, but I can sell it on land contract to someone for $120K.So the plan was to get a bank to refinance the homes and cash out what I've invested into them. 

Really all over Ohio we're seeing massive growth and alot of companies setting up shop to offer their employees affordability and the nice "midwestern" life. 

How would you build differntly than a rental or retail sale?

Best of luck as Blue Ridge is great and growing market with more retail and multifamily coming into the area. 

One was modest, the other was a massive 30% bump.  

This may be a great option if your goal is to break into the large multifamily or even some other asset type (industrial, office, retail etc).Another option would be accessing the $140k, then doing private lending with it, so you get straight cash flow without the overhead of another property.

Project Manager at a construction retail company.

If you don't find the source of the leak, you may end up with massive water & mold damage.

They seem to favor folks who want MINOR cosmetic upgrades and that’s something I suggest when starting out - not a massive gut job level rehab (ask me how I know 🤪).

With the Fed continuing to push up interest rates (another .75% rate hike today 11/2) and related 30 mortgages for retail buyers at or above 7%, buyers have taken a large inhale and are firmly sitting on the fence with sales volumes dropping 80% in some of our local zip codes from 6 months ago.