My close contractor friend told me to buy in Scottsdale cause that's where the money is, but to be honest that market looks more challenging to me at the moment (until I understand it more). 

Finding a suitable partner may be more challenging, but if you're interested in making money in RE we have enough in common to at least discuss.  

Is this something I can challenge?

Any closing attorney can draft a note/deed/settlement statement, but unless they've had to argue in court to defend or oppose these documents in court, they may not have enough perspective.

Personally, I've dealt with hoard houses a bit  and it's not the mess that's the challenge, it's the mindset that makes me extremely hesitant to match any promises. 

The FNMA condo guidelines are all here  https://www.fanniemae.com/singlefamily/project-eli...Condo projects and properties which don't meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac warrantability standards are known as non-warrantable.Non-warrantable condos are more challenging to borrow against.Typically, a condo is considered warrantable if:No single entity owns more than 10% of the units in a project, including the developerAt least 51% of the units are owner-occupiedFewer than 15% of the units are in arrears with their association duesThere is no litigation in which the homeowners association (HOA) is namedCommercial space accounts is 25 percent or less of the total building square footageWhat  you want is lender that will lend on NON warrantable condo project. 

Need to refinance a rehab we completed in May and have  been running into challenges with many banks due to seasoning requirements to go off the appraised value and deed in LLC.

It was surprisingly easy.My major challenge is that I have been managing major rehabs from half-way across the world.

Ugh, so today was a big challenge that, sadly, made me pause and question how the heck I'm going to do real estate with a new baby.  

I think that buying condos will be a tough challenge today, AND when the conversion process happens.