Nate,A 1031 exchange should cost less than 1000 to hire a QI.I think you could exchange multiple houses for a large complex, but exchange would have to fit within timelines.Mark

Do this asap, before they hire a Realtor or a Builder decides to buy it out from under you. 

Hire a good inspector who will tell you what to expect.  

Now I have to figure out how we an afford it while hiring help.

I am bilingual in Spanish and English and still am also involved in the world of real estate services as a title rep and bilingual mobile independent settlement agent. 

I've been told to always go through an Attorney for any Real Estate Investment deal.What are some good questions to ask to make sure I find/hire the best one?

I hired  a lawyer, sure, but once the judgement was in, he was out within 30 days.

If you are new to REI and absolutely cannot visit the market (huge mistake in my opinion) then at least hire a local investor to be present at the inspection and give you their opinion.  

learning about permits... when do I need one, what is structural, what needs to be inspected and what doesn't, when I can pull my own, when the county will require me to hire a general or other licensed professional for the permit, etc. 

@Maciej Michalak  @Wayne Brooks  double closing MLS listings is bush league.If I was repping a seller you close then do whatever it is you want.. you want to assign you make the listing agent look like an idot.. they no like that.. but like@Sarah Ziehr  you may fool some of the less than switched on brokers.. a good broker no way.