When will they monopoly type of businesses finally learn that entrenchment is not the answer to change?

It's more difficult to do that if you're not fully entrenched in the marketplace.Have you tried looking a little further north from SD?

RE cycles are like sex, it always feels the best right before it ends :)Who knows for sure, really, though ... my comment was more that it'd be a good idea in my opinion and worth it to rent for a bit so you can spend the time to familiarize yourself and get entrenched in the local market before throwing down $1M and don't feel like you're going to miss out if you delay since the market are hot now, because the market always moves in cycles.

I found BP and have entrenched myself in the Beginners Guide and the Podcasts.

We are entrenched in the development process, we just don't generally own the properties we are developing the designs and plans for. 

Sounds great, but politicians wouldn't let it happen, as it devolves power away from them (which they derive from their ability to dispense goodies to favored groups, and to effectively buy votes and maintain theri entrenched positions).

Along with that I do need to meet people who are entrenched in the rehabbing business to gain knowledge and relationships with "the competition".

Well, square could simply lower their cut to 2.5%, just like uber lowered their rates here.Square has the first mover advantage but Amazon is the entrenched big dog and may well be able to wipe out that advantage.

Institutions like Lehman were so entrenched that its collapsed halted capital markets.

I've seen it all as someone deeply entrenched in real estate and temporary housing for over 25 years.