Taking the average of 5 comps is one way to have a decent ARV (not too aggressive and not too conservative), however, your specific market and your level of rehab will dictate if you get the top price or the "average/median" price of the comps.

Typically there are levels of zoning due to density and block construction type all in a city general plan.

On 7/1 I entered the apt to find nothing but toys, leftover food, and random clothing strewn about.

My guess is it was determined that nothing in the immediate area was a good comp due to age and finish level, so the appraiser ventured farther out for comps. 

Note this is the appreciation level of my worse property that was worth ~20% of today's values. 

The best skip traces produces data at the credit bureau level.

Land owner got suspicious when top level water tank was built on 10th floor.

I'm suggesting you avoid Fortune Builders $25k level, but local boot camps by your REiA maybe $499, even $999. 

That being said, I am sure that building from the ground up is another level and I am setting myself for lots of headaches but hey, I gotta learn somehow. 

I consider the type of care that needs to be taken to avoid fraudulent investments in a self-directed retirement account to be on par with the level of care needed to avoid fraudulent investments with non-retirement money.As for self-dealing, you are correct that these accounts are for your benefit later on (presumably in retirement).