I'd be surprised if there is a sustainable builder in Texas that I have not at least talked to, if I don't actually know them.I am trying to develop projects that allow these folks to showcase their work so people may discover that they can live in healthy, efficient, comfortable, forever homes that don't burn,  and are insect proof and mold free. 

He took me under his wing until I had enough experience and was comfortable enough to open my own Brokerage.  

I am comfortable with my choice but I would not question someone who decided to refi and extract some of the equity to be more leveraged (I may have made decision to refi if I had any need for the money).  

If you are not 100% comfortable/confident then do not move forward without one. 

It is all about your comfort level, but for me and many others on here they will note your better off investing that money in a deal and learning that way then spending large sums of money on gurus.

I am sure there are deals to be found in Contra Costa and Alameda however the entry price is daunting in my head and I feel more comfortable getting started with something closer to the 200k and under.

However, if this is during an economic downturn when default would likely happen, there might be no equity in the house for the original seller, and I can't see how a seller would be comfortable being ultimately responsible for a mortgage that might last 20-30 years.

I have more than 20 whole homes under management so I am pretty comfortable on how much they make and who I am targeting as a client. 

Do you wash the bedspreads, comforters, etc... or is there a better way?

I supposed if the structure is valid, it comes down to being comfortable with the borrowers, the projects, and assets that are being used as collateral.