Although it is nice getting a vacant property back periodically where you can flip for a big payday. 

An investor is risking a lot of money and the only pay day comes at the very end once sold (in the flip model).That said, I do agree that a strong relationship with trust is essential to both successes.

Even when markets weren't as tight, like when I started, it was 6 months until my first pay day, and about a year before I had enough deal flow to have reliable income.I'm surprised you are having a hard time finding IT work in CA right now.

  $1000 can be cured relatively easy trough Payday loan or other means. 

The same type of logic goes into the business of payday loans but we all know that they are predatory and do harm to those who are struggling financially.

[But in the meantime, how much are you saving, every payday?

Sell it off for a onetime payday at a high tax rate  only to have to do it again to eat again. 

I sell the majority of my properties on a rent to own and get the big pay days.

Right now, I will not touch a sub-2 deal unless it will get me a $30,000 pay day (when I sell on a lease option, I will make $30,000 on the back end).

This is usually small money up front ($3,000 to $10,000) and the big pay day of $30,000 on the backend.