if not, it might be worth the ride to New Haven or even up to the Hartford area.  

I think you can still ride it, but that's your call.

We would the weather for hail storms, which are frequent in Texas, then race to the library to get the Haines listings and beat all the other companies to the work with a simple phone call.

Running any business is like riding a bike.

Where there is a will, there's a way.Others have brought the numbers in very well, so I'll let those ride for now.One thing you need to do, before anything else, is pull current comps.

Northeast Maryville along E Broadway tends to have smaller, older houses- I worked there in high school (I'm riding through there right now, actually), and it's a little more sketchy than the rest of town (I saw some drug deals & petty crime around there), but not too bad by national standards.

I would think trying to find a GC that's willing to babysit a group of guys with a prison mentality, teach them, provide the tools and probably a ride to and from the job site would be next to impossible.

If it really is a deal they will likely buy it and maybe cut you in or let you ride shotgun, and that will be a way better learning experience for you.

I understand the need for appraisals..especially for lenders to be sure the property is a just price for what the buyer is paying, etc...However, the fact that there is SO much riding on deals with certain lenders, and other aspects of the real estate world on appraisals is really frustrating to me.  

@Shanna Mosby In the 23222 area there are deals to be had, you really have to be on the ground there and find the deals where others have blazed the path and just ride their coat-talis, don't try to go in there and start on a new block.