Then I met an investor who had operated fine without it and since my license has lapsed.Now in my late 30's, I continue to design, develop apparel, freelance and consult but really want to immerse myself in real estate investing.

They are all very professional and obviously immersed in Real Estate investing in the current So Cal market.

If you do not have enough construction knowledge to manage a project, you expose yourself to precisely the kind of game-playing you encountered here - where it sounds like you were charged separately for each task that is involved in a simple window replacement and that in the normal course of things should have been included in the quoted price.  

Just immerse yourself in it and try to find what works for you.The ultimate beginners guide is tremendous but i think my favorite resource are the BP podcasts!

Plus the vacancy rate will not go from zero to 100% when a tenant moves out.All this may change as we get immersed in real estate investing.  

My main reason for getting my license was to immerse myself into real estate while investing my money into rental properties. 

I've read about 7 books, of which many are featured on the BP podcast (that I listen to constantly), and I peruse the BP site quite often as if I'm returning to an immersive, engaging, and lushly detailed series of inspirational stories, which IMO describes this site pretty well.You may or may not see me commenting on seemingly random topics, as I'm sure we all do, but please feel free to reach out to me.

I have very little real estate experience, but am quickly immersing myself in order to learn.

Hey All,I'm John and I've always had an interest in real estate as a result of its passive income opportunity and ability to generate income using other peoples money.My family actually owns real estate in both Jersey City and the Philippines so it runs in the blood.I am trying to maximize the investments ability to generate income in the United States in order to better capitalize on potential investments abroad and to also give myself more time to immerse myself in the field of real estate. 

Keep learning, but I would REALLY immerse myself in REI clubs in the area and find opportunity to align with a seasoned mentor - ideally, working side by side slapping paint on a rehab or driving for dollars for a couple days.