I lsot 80k on one deal I Corvallis a few years back.. ( Oregon State).. but heck that's what being a developer builder is all about.. big risk big reward.

. $1200 for 3 month term                $160K Property Value (incl. improvements), $300K LimitQuote 2 - Builders Renovation Policy from Lloyd's of London. $917 for 3 month term                $80K - Property, $300K Liability, $1K deductibleBoth seem very high and I can't even use quote 2 because I am not using a licensed GC.

Last builder I worked for closed up shop and a left me to fend for myself.

The only real, real estate experience I have is purchasing, dealing with the builder since my house was new construction, and owning my home.

At such time the price of the dirt has appreciated so much that he was able to sell out for over twice the purchase price to a major home builder who tore down the office building and build a 24 unit townhouse development.

We then visited some local builders who work with manufactured duplexes and single family homes. 

Most recently, I have started a Real Estate Photography business (robquinnphotography.com) helping agents, property managers, landlords and builders market their sale and rental listings with high quality photography. 

I don't think there's a scientific approach to learning this except for putting in a lot of efficient hours (like the 10,000 hour rule that Malcolm Gladwell discussed in his book), so it needs to be a combination of books, networking, speaking to local builders, Realtors, investors, attorneys, CPA's, insurance agents, and every other person needed in a real estate deal will get you where you need to go. 

It was a builder, and would pay $530K if the man would leave in a week.

It already felt like there were FAR too many houses on the market due to the new builders that came in and built all new neighborhoods - which the military folks bought - leaving all the older homes with no one to sell to.