You may need a lawyer, NYS is an attorney state and we typically use an attorney to handle title and sometimes escrow.

As for JV, are your familiar with typical terms and expectations of a capital contributor?

It is not typical for an agent to actually measure the property. 

I typically start there and check anyone in question using the other review websites.One of my handymen charges $40 the first hour and $30 each additional (he's so busy he's booked up until 2019 - no joke) and the other charges $50 the first hour and $40 each additional. 

As Brian mentioned most lenders will require 10-15% of the purchase price as reserves be available in your IRA on date of purchase on top of the down-payment, which BTW is typically in the 40% range.

From experience in BP meetups conversation typically comes fairly easy without a whole lot of moderating.

A developer typically will not buy a piece of land without getting site plan approvals, zoning, LOI's from tenants,etc.

When buying notes, they typically will not be in your backyard, so like any long distance investing you need to pick a couple markets and get intimately familiar with them. 

HELOCs are all adjustable rates, typically with no fixed period.

@Jaz PatelYour better to go in person than online as typically less competition.