My recommendation is to get both of @J Scotts books (The Book on Flipping Houses: How to Buy, Rehab, and Resell Residential Properties and The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs: The Investor's Guide to Defining Your Renovation Plan, Building Your Budget, and Knowing Exactly How Much It All Costs).Then, after you read and understand both of these books on a fundamental level, get, read, understand, re-read, absorb, re-read, use osmosis with, re-read and re-read The Real Estate Rehab Investing Bible: A Proven-Profit System for Finding, Funding, Fixing, and Flipping Houses...Without Lifting a Paintbrush by Paul Esajian (of Fortune Builders fame. 

Just re read my title, pardon my not so great English.

Hi Community,I am a 55 year old that is looking to learn how to buy and flip homes in the Bay Area.I have read and read and re-read, viewed videos and learned about funding, now I believe that I am ready to make a deal, but would feel better if I knew where to look.I am open to suggestions on where to start ☺

Some of the books I've already read but thinking of re-reading. 

I will look into the HELOC though & reread your reply to learn!

@Eugene Kemp, I'm sorry after re-reading my question I realize I didn't explain it well.

I re-read your post and note now it deals with rental units.

However, re-reading the initial post, I realize Peter is actually asking how to structure a fair deal.

Once I reread all these comments about 5 more times, then I'll hopefully feel 100% confident in the decision I make :-).Thank you all so much.Brett

You REALLY need to re-read that!