I hope your attorney can help you and remember to stream your energy to find the next deal yourself so you can cover this loss; this is the most helpful way to let go of that feeling of being scammed.

The midwest is not growing as fast as the south and southeast.

Here is your direct quote from the post about low ball offers: "So back to low balling when doing this you’ll get a lot of emails like the one I’m about to show you, this shows that 90-95% of RE agents have no clue how investors do business and they don’t care how investors work, but you as an investor always need to keep your cool and always be the nice guy because you never know that dumb agent might have the best deal one day and if he or she remembers you, you’ll probably get the benefit of the doubt."

There is strong rental demand because of growing population, job market, and the booming tech scene. 

I used the proceeds of the primary residence I owned in NC to grow a portfolio of value add buy and hold here in College Station.

You have to be up front about how the property is being used.Also, remember that umbrella insurance will not do anything for you if the underlying property or vehicle is not insured correctly.  

I am looking for a solid real estate agent and eventually will need a home inspector, possible property manager/etc. in regards to the process.I have a few family friends which I am blessed to have mentored me the past few years in this field and I am determined/diligent to learn and grow. 

@Sean Gallagher not a sales pitch, but this is what we provide for investors in Metro Detroit:)Understand that if you hire the latest & greatest PMC, many grow using poorly trained VA's. - Your portfolio will suffer:(You want a PMC that has great systems in place, including a great portal where you can keep tabs on eveything.You will also need to manage your PMC on a regular basis.

If your goal is to grow faster, buying rent ready properties isn't the usual way to do that if you have limited funds to start with.

Best of luck on your journey, and remember, delayed gratification is your best friend in this business!