So I was starting from scratch, again.

I found it to be very helpful when I got started investing. 

There is a whole thread started by an investor who publicly shares his crowdfunding deals using a Gsheet, here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/520/topics/294382-i-put-2-million-into-20-crowd-fund-deals-posting-performance?

An engineer would be a great start to help disect the conditions of the site. 

They'll start looking in secondary/tertiary markets to get in the game.

Since there is no "Rehabbing" catagory, BP, wink, wink, i figured i would start here. 

Found out later that this was this GC's MO to undercut everyone's bid, then make back the money and then some with change orders after the project had started. 

Then I have a solid baseline to start the rehab.  

Start by reading "Long-Distance Real Estate Investing" by David Greene.

You have to pay capital gains regardless of whether you had a mortgage once you sell unless you do a 1031 exchange in which case the process starts itself over and you don't have to pay capital gains tax unless you sell and don't 1031.