(I.e Austin Texas suburbs) I have a technical background in Software Engineering and AI and want to leverage those to help find great deals and better understand market as it evolves.

While it is possible to use this building method, it is just easier, in my opinion, to design, engineer, get approved and permitted to build, using the traditional South Florida CBS method.

I have recently graduated from school with an engineering degree and I have quickly realized that the 9-5 lifestyle is not for me.

There are a few zoning obstacles that will have to be overcome but we have a plan in place to work with a civil engineer with experience working with municipality to clear then up.

You might try searching in a search engine for "merchandising" and "margin".

Not to mention it's an engineering company, not even in real estate so they probably wouldn't reimburse that.Seems like you did it the smart way, got most of it paid for.

I showed them the zoning laws and worked with a local engineering firm (all within my 7 day window) to provide him a few simple sketches of what was possible.

It would be worth your time and money to meet with a structural engineer and do soil testing before you close on it. 

Are you including everything (design/ engineering and permitting costs, utility tap fees and connection, site work, foundation, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, interior and exterior finishes, landscaping, construction insurance, etc)?

Interior received paint, trim, new hand-scraped engineered flooring, rebuilt stairs, custom tile work in bathrooms, updated cabinets with stainless appliances and all new electrical and plumbing fixtures.