For example, one person I am coaching found a 138 unit apartment complex that the rents are way under $1/sqft and it's an opportunity to increase the rents with a light value-add and increase the value significantly.But when I go outside my market, I need to have a preliminary basis on which market to choose and then based on that, which sub-markets and then if there are good deals in those sub-markets.

If you are bidding on the county website it should have a link that would supply you with a preliminary title search.

In preliminary inquiries, I'm told I can expect to be able to borrow 80% LTV. 

What you should have done, is requested to be let out of your lease, and requested the return of your deposit as part of that.If forced to make a wager, my money is on the landlord prevailing, with a chance they could counter-sue for even more damages.

I’m still in the preliminary stages of getting involved in real estate investing.

Preliminary research shows that it might be a good opportunity for a sub-division land developer, so I am trying to get the land tied up with an option agreement.

That is a generous offer for him to come out and give you a preliminary meeting.

This will boost your preliminary knowledge base exponentially, and thereafter your confidence in offering on properties.Once you have a bit more comfort with the straight forward items (or while you’re learning about them), get a property under contract with an inspection contingency of 14+ business days.

I would recommend reaching out to your banks if you have not done so already to at least get that preliminary conversation out of the way.

AmirAs a structural engineer I would recommend that your first step is to contact a reputable investor friendly structural engineer to assess the damage and provide some preliminary repair options.