Here are some very very simple tips for due diligence:https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/12615/88171-due-diligence-is-the-key-what-can-you-doJust be careful of big promises and sweet talkers - they come in all shapes and sizes!!

So it's vital you have an investor minded agent on the ground who can help you make a good buying decision.

For example, using simple numbers, let’s say our plan is to acquire the plot of land for $100K.

.- vital-importance-mentor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- get-ready-to-invest https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- get-your-head-in-the-game https://royallegalsolutions.co...You might want to read and follow these threads:advice-to-your-20-year-old-self https://www.biggerpockets.com/...financial-advise-for-getting-started https://www.biggerpockets.com/...how-to-prepare-for-a-career-as-a-flipper https://www.biggerpockets.com/...new-to-wholesale-real-estate https://www.biggerpockets.com/...what-is-the-best-re-related-9-to-5-job https://www.biggerpockets.com/...Bonus for the weekend, my collection for starters (read the comments too, and then if you like the author, go check out what else they wrote):- stages-of-investing https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- newbies-learn-real-estate-investing https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- 5-ways-to-know-youre-not-ready-to-invest https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- ideal-vs-desperate-investor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- how-much-to-offer-property https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- hazardous-attitudes-of-investors https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- 21-traits-scammy-real-estate-investment-guru https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- youre-not-cut-out-to-be-real-estate-investor https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- questions-new-investors-should-ask https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- real-estate-books-beginner-investors https://www.biggerpockets.com/...- what-separates-those-who-succeed-from-those-who-fail https://www.biggerpockets.com/...If that's not enough, ping me and I'll give you a whole collection of blogs and podcasts to follow.Bonus 2: 1) Read at least one hour per day every single day.2) Remember the quote by Jim Rohn "You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with."3) Check for toilet paper before sitting down.

There are timelines to be aware of to locate, identify, and close on the replacement property in the exchange, so understanding those well in advance of any property sale you hope to exchange is major component.Now, if you're simple looking for one investors opinion here is mine (and worth the price you paid).

A simple solution would be to call some of the owners to ask if they know what is going on

I'd also start building some real skills for home improvement as far as simple repairs or replacement techniques so I had something to offer others as either A. help and offer that as my sweat equity or B. jobs, to save more investment moneyI wold start looking towards longer term plans to make money to use for investing, myself, I'd save some more so I could become a notary at 18 and build a notary business as soon as I hit 18 to funnel into my RE plans, I think in CA, it's about $500 total from start to finish to become and Notary and loan signing agent.

When I'm evaluating a deal I look at two simple factors; can I force 25% equity in less than six months? 

If the owner is deceased check the vitals statistics dept and request the death certificate.

Any talk of a "market collapse" in housing is either ignorant or very very short term focused, simple evidence even for any person with no economic education is "The Housing Collapse".