Hope I was able to provide some good food for thought and good luck Timothy!

My present day job has trained me quite well to read people and their level of truthfulness.If some of the property is where I believe it is, the land should be fairly valuable and if a couple of the restaurants are what I believe they are, they have been in place for years and one of them is somewhat of an institution in town due to it's age...think a diners, drive-ins and dives type of place you'd see on the Food Network. 

Get a second job waiting tables at a restaurant , you get food cheaper , now you wont starve .

The Bigger Pockets Podcast and forums have basically become daily habits.

Welcome Julian - you came to the right place for help and resources - there is so much experience here - This place should be a daily stop for any investor  - Julian , were glad to have you here.

I'm sure we're all still learning and will never stop learning and adapting.My goals are simply to become financially independent and retire early so that I can travel the world, write, see/do amazing things, meet amazing people, eat amazing food, and do good charitable things around the world.

‘We’re at the top of the food chain,’ he said.

I find that daily interaction with my contractors and the various trips to Home Depot or HD Supplies goes a long way in helping with cost estimates and determining rehab budgets.  

Identify an area near you (it could be where you live, work or your daily commute) and get to know the properties, the prices or recent sales, recent listings and then look for opportunities (vacant houses, overgrown lawns, etc).

Any holding over thereafter shall result in Resident being liable to Owner/Agent for daily rental damages equal to the current market value of the unit, divided by 30.