The biggest take away is you need a solid "boots on the ground" team like what you're looking for.

The bank does the loan knowing one of the partners is local and has "boots on the ground".

All of the above is in tremendous disrepair and the grounds are in a defunct state as well.

I learned to surf during a weekend in Morocco, but never got past the standing and enjoying phase..

I was always fascinated by seeing something being made possible from just an idea on paper.I am hoping this website will provide me with a wealth of invaluable information and advice as I work to be a real estate investor.My very first project (which I'm still in the planning stages of) is my first home which I will use as my springboard/dive in to real estate investing and construction: I am hoping to buy a house in its foreclosure/short sale stage or a fairly run down property and subsequently "remodel" (but really rebuild) from ground up.My budget is tight and could be bordering unrealistic for the type of house I want and the neighborhood I'm looking at, but I don't give up too easily and believe that if I ask enough people enough questions, I can just about make it :)Anyway, that's me!

We use french drains on the exterior at ground level and we tie our gutter downspouts into them.

I have almost all trades by payroll, and anything above 200/day for highly skilled (minimum ground-up commercial capacity) personnel, is generous enough for a days pay.

If you haven't already you are really missing out.It's a great way to get your feet wet and start from the ground up.It really has some great information for what seems like 90% of the questions asked.From now on I plan on linking the podcasts that pertain to the question. 

I used that money to move back to Phoenix and buy two condo's and start a seperate business in another industry, which is getting off the ground.

so you need more boots on the ground intel.