Next Steps:1) Get your personal finances in order, on solid footing.

If there are any experienced real estate investors in the New York area that can help me get my foot in the door and start investing it will be greatly appreciated!

Different markets have different details, but on average, I have found that a solid renovation is about 80-100 bucks per square foot. 

Let say  I want to build a 3,000 square foot home would it be cheaper to build a module home or have a construction company do it.

I'm having some installed from Lowes tomorrow and they were around $55 a foot which is comparable to what other local companies are charging.  

Get as much as you can, as long as you make a profit. yes, if the neighboring property sold for a certain amount per square foot then yours should be worth at least that. but you know he is trying to put a land puzzle together for a bigger development, so the ball is in your court. are you going to hold on to the property forever to see if the value does go up ?

It sounds as if you are off on the right foot.  

Also, I bought my first property at $18/square foot in about a "C" grade condition.

I've also created another job for myself by opening a 5,000 sq foot Fitness Clinic now in 2017 we have moved to a larger 10,000 sq foot facility.

@José Linares, Any QI with good  experience and a national foot print will be able to take care of you.