These neighborhoods are very actively developing high end condos to attract the New York buyers who have been priced out of their city. 

And it did using cheap properties purchased at auction.Fast forward the clock, now at 73 years old, I stopped counting the net-worth thing, too busy doing deals developing commercial properties and helping others as apprentices to do deals.

I have ideas on the development and construction, but lack creativity/knowledge on the deal structure.  

Apply For Grants Some towns offer transitional and developing neighborhood homes at very steep discounts.

Ohio has a specific statue which is pretty easy to understand which mandates specific information and administration on LC/CFD's.  

Sounds like you are developing a great plan.  

After graduation, i moved to San Diego and worked for Community Property Developers and Real Estate Brokerage.

That and talk to some agents like Rhett to help look for properties that would fit your criteria and help you develop your plan. 

It's a chess match that takes years of strategizing, making many small moves that develop and snowball after many years of right (and sometimes wrong) choices.If you can't prequalify now, plan for the future.

I sold to a developer for top $$.