The goal is to slowly build a real estate portfolio and get to a point that I can eventually sale my business. 

More detached single family homes changing hands than attached leading to higher average sales?

It's almost like they tack on a few hundred dollars to the order and forget to charge sales tax

To be completely 100 with you, I don't know if you are aware or not, but Rent To Retirement advertises some of their new construction homes on my Investment Properties For Sale Show.

Comps wise look under 1 mile and the past 6 months for sales.

They get the sale and its not any harder than finding a home for a retail buyer. 

The reason is the rent-to-price ratio is good so you can cash flow, and most of the West side doesn’t have a Point of sale inspection which is really annoying.   

So, winters are the traditional slow times for sales & rentals.

A good local agent should be able to help with some of those updates needed for the exit sale. 

But there are certain skills you need.. to be successful and not everyone has the intangibles.LIke all sales   there are top producers  there are middle of the road and there are some that just are never going to do it for various reasons.