We first negotiated a lease to have a "first-right-of-refusal", then when the owner was ready to sell we purchased How did you finance this deal?

We wanted something that we would be able to subdivide and sell.

If your grandma will sell you her $500k home for $200k.

So, yes, if you like it yourself, you'll find it easier and better to "sell it" to others as a destination and you manage expenses and resources more efficiently.

If so, what is the cadence for follow-up with the sellers that tell you they do not want to sell right now?

I’m selling a house this month that I owe nothing on and I would like to use that money to build a new house on some land that I own.

The majority of properties unless really distressed sell at or close to market value.

They will usually sell them, even though not listed. 

But the plan is to sell it so I want to keep on working towards that. 

I get a Landlord policy and pay a higher rate while they are vacant.If you have major structural work to do then get builders risk insurance, otherwise just hire licensed and insured workers for cosmetic work.Without a Quiet Title you may not be able to refinance or sell the property to a buyer using financing.