Would people suggest that I just lock up the land, get it planned and permitted, and sell to a builder or other investor for a quick buck? 

Others go vacant in the spring but are generally picked up pretty quick because the students learn pretty quick that if you wait they won't find anything right before school starts.I also tend to prefer more mature students, stay away from the freshman, lol.

They used to even charge 50 bucks more for it in the winter months than they did in the summer months.

Expect this to increase to the 12% range as investments mature and back end income is achieved.  

I live in the far southwest suburbs of Chicago and am reading up and studying into buying houses at sheriff sales and fixing them up and selling them.I'm not so much interested in making a quick buck but would like to make some money.

Just never forget it's your project, no one else's, and the buck will definitely stop there.Buy a little confidence and get those books.

As you probably guessed, The FortuneBuilders route of getting into the game was way out of my price range, and based on everything I've seen on BP, it looks as though I would get a way bigger bang for my buck here anyway.  

I also live in Bucks County and have done fix and flips and am also a General Contractor.  

For 25 to 100 bucks the knowledge you get could be critical to your success.

Not sure when that will be, and depending on our ROI we might even move to KS to get a bit more bang for our buck.