If you have a pick-up truck, offer to cut overgrown hedges and haul debris.

The culture, the food, the people were all wonderful. 

Anyways they got to work, had the concrete truck come, and the patio was peed and curing by 7.

Set up your keywords here, and then truck over to Meetup.com and look for local real estate.  

Rehab, New build, one day work does not matter, it's all about the contract, if you can't get enough money on time, stuff halts, and if it's a one guy and a truck contractor, don't expect you can get a good product and expect to pay large upfront with the risk of not showing up, if it's a good sized contractor, then expect to pay more but will get the job done the way you want it.

This isn't really aimed at your situation in particular but it might give you some food for thought.https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/306636-should-you-sell-your-house-or-rent-it-out-asked-and-anwsered

Food for thought.

I saw this happen to a friend of mine years ago when he was building a gas station convenience store / fast food drive through.

I yell when I get into my truck.

Other apts that are not needing rehab, but are also much less detailed and luxurious are going for 200 - 280k.He wants to buy a truck, a boat, and go traveling.