Sometimes they go nuts due to voltage surges or old age. 

The wholesaler was going nuts wondering when the deal would close so that he could get the rest of his money.

I just finished the free course A Beginner's Course to Real Estate Investing which provides a good overview of the nuts and bolts of real estate investing.  

Yep its getting a bit hot, prices at least in my area have not gone to nuts.

real estate is about quarterbacking the deal" if its your baby your hands need to be in all parts of the deal... soup to nuts Never Bitter only Better - Nick 

I’ve seen that service advertised for $400 and up, which is nuts, considering, in the case of a lease-option, it doesn’t include the criminal background check, eviction check, previous landlord checks, visit to current rental, and probably not the employment verification a smart landlord does.

Note I'm not contemplating repairs / maintenance type stuff, such as sewer mains or 1) Moving a home to a new location (as in so expensive you're nuts to contemplate it)2) Replacing / significantly changing external look / structural elements / adding a story3) Replacing vinyl siding with full brick or stone all the way around4) Replacing old heating (baseboard radiant) with new, such as a heat pump and forced air5) Updating Kitchens6) Updating bathrooms7) Replacing floors (like carpet to hardwood or stone)8) Updating fixtures9) Painting

And your at the mercy of a very steep learning curve.. your not going to learn the reality and nuts and bolts reading about this on line.. its a belly to belly business one needs to get in the game and network with those in the game.

indeed, some areas of California can be a tough nut to crack, especially much of Southern California and the Bay Area for example...but sometimes you can drive to outlying areas and find far more affordable property.  

There is a lot to be said for the nuts and bolts of what you offer but, remember, a home is usually an emotional experience.