He told me he had a mid 6-figure insurance settlement pending and was eager to get finished with physical rehab and get 'normal'.

I funded in 3 days fyi.. start to finish.. but a known borrower and i am not a bank or lender I am an experienced land developer who happens to also lend money.. so not your typical underwriting scenario. 

There is some website out there that gives you a ballpark cost based on zipcode... for a variety of jobs.

For some basic education, this attorney's website is excellent, specifically this article about owner financing.

To determine that ARV, you will probably need a real estate agent in the beginning and then learn how to pull your comps (Zillow, redfin, realtor dot com and other websites). 4.

It's even better if you have a standardized list of finishes picked out, this will save you a ton of time. 

I have seen a number of posts talking about SEO to attract in-bound marketing. Have any of you worked with a company that focuses on the Real Estate Investor?

I could arrange the meetings remotely but the main problem is that agents will for sure answer to either me or potential buyer with feedbacks like the following quoted ones are (i repeat again: those are assumed verbal feedbacks the RE agent or broker could say to me or to potential buyer - they would prevent the possibility of me coming in the middle of them): "I am not legally allowed to try to sell the RE for different price comparing to the price I clearly stated on our agency's website""There is no way I could mention your name to the potential buyer as owner of the RE if you are not.

In the Hudson Valley a builders grade type home in the finished areas would generally have a replacement cost of $200.00 per square foot.

The fresh finished rental is worth more to an investor than a vacant mls in the same way as wine is more valuable than grapes.