Getting permits after a variance depending on jurisdiction for multifamily for projects I have done has typically been 6-18 months.

I recently started working in the private hard money area of Real Estate.Currently I work with a hard money lender based out of LA and we focus on mortgages, commercial, and anything business purpose related.

I would appreciate some practical feedback on fixing and flipping REO properties. 

Hi Michael,Welcome to the community- There are a lot of good professionals and resources here on bigger pockets to learn and grow. 

This team consists of an Investor Focused Agent, Lender, Contractor, and PM.Read this article on the "core 4".

Any thoughts on a transaction like that?

Especially for your first investment, it is a great idea to at least be close by to check in on it and make sure everything's going smoothly!!

We relocated to Central Florida about 5 years ago to focus on the Disney/Orlando STR market.

By trap I mean either you get into a house that isn't what it was proposed to be or you get in bed with people (your network) that do not have your best interest at heart and are feeding you lines of bs as they never come through for you. 

While I've been focused on buy-and-hold strategies, I'm eager to elevate my game and explore new investment opportunities.