Children are to be seen and not heard.Look, listen, scope things out, read, but by all means don't prove your ignorance by speaking it.

Usually people that own properties there are locals, people who are extremely wealthy and just rent out their lake house while they are working or gone, or ignorant California investors that think it's a great opportunity.

Ignore land for simplicity.

I quickly realized I knew absolutely nothing about rehabbing and would end up having to hire contractors and pay top dollar (and likely even get ripped off due to my ignorance) for the rehab.  

What they can do for you is invaluable in the long run.I wrote a reply recently to a post pointing out the need of a good insurance agent vs an ignorant one or going directly to an insurance company.

Excuse my ignorance, If I submit a contract to purchase a residential lot, what do I write in the financing section (the amount) if I am getting a construction loan to pay for the lot and the construction?

Remember they are not particularly bright and are generally inclined to not want to do anything and will ignore everything they do not want to hear.

I'm not ignoring appreciation exactly, but since I am looking to buy and hold in a city with job growth, it isn't my main concern.

It is absolutely fine to disagree with or simply ignore advice provided to you here on BP, but you are expected to conduct yourself with a modicum of decorum and respect for the other participants.   

The other 4-5 times were because the owner was deceptive and that deception came out in due diligence OR the owner was ignorant of some major title issue that we could not work through.