ask them for recent permit pulls in the county and go look them up to verify activity. you can also call the local building department to verify their license and recent activity. if you don't see any run for the hills. 

Explore my personal favorites, Set For Life by Scott Trench or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, for invaluable financial insights.3.

I’d recommend starting by connecting with local investor groups and networking with other professionals in the area.Also, seek out teams that are actively investing and managing properties on the ground.

I am exploring options - sell his place, use is as a rental or take some equity out if it to purchase another property (I was thinking maybe a short term rental on the lake)?

I'm open to helping you explore your options.

It would be mainly rented to alumni, parents of students and people exploring the area by the University of Florida.  

Virtus is a commercial team here that is VERY active. 

I’m open to flipping, renting, or exploring other strategies.My mantra is to test new things “fast and cheap,” so I’ll probably begin investing locally in CT before considering otehr markets across the US. 

Since this is a short-term flip, the IRS usually sees it as active income, but if your role is truly hands-off, there might be a way to treat it differently.Have you thought about how you’re structuring the deal?

Explore my personal favorites, Set For Life by Scott Trench or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, for invaluable financial insights.3.