Here, you'll see a back and fourth from people who've put their careers and livelihoods on the line building their businesses come out with a passion and defend themselves.

Switching things up career wise and trying to find some good properties to start off my RE investing on the right foot. 

In business, references and jobs done also help too.Handymen per CSLB are prohibited from taking on projects that are more than $500, unless they can either break the project down into smaller job or risk going to jail -especially if they furnished something recordable (ie, a phone conversation or in writing) in violation of this fundamental CA rule governing construction.So yes I do agree CA handymen should never quote a client anything more than $500/materials+labor per particular job unless they don't care about building a career towards being a licensed contractor honestly and dont care if they end up being criminally charged for it.As for a family member and/or close friend I would expect handymen in CA to obviously work out 'less than armlength' ways to help them with big jobs that do exceeed $500/project but not leave an obviously incriminating papertrail afterall its family you're dealing with anyway and nevertheless as a handyman (and likely brother, cousin, in-law etc) until one day you are a licensed contractor then can quote as much as you want per project.I'm tired and done with CA handymen masquerading as contractors, quoting contractor prices, yet not having even liability insurance that licensed contractors are required to have. 

I'm a dedicated yogi, lover of jazz, and mother to one human and three fur babies.Currently, I am a freelance interior designer but I started my career in real estate about 15 years ago in Austin TX as a licensed Real Estate Agent and Property Manager.

I've been at companies early in my career that weren't making any money and some loosing money or facing bankruptcy. 

@David Mueller I love using HELOCs, and have done this strategy multiple times over my career.

I am getting my re license and want to do real estate as a career and I want to buy investment properties.

When I started my real estate career in 2006, I knew next to nothing about selling a house.

Early on in my career, I remember other investors speaking of the quick breakeven for a sewer snake. 

Unicorn hunting is not a career move.