How would you feel if it took you 20 years to become proficient in a skill and someone comes along and asks you this question.We also had a podcast with @john Ruhlin from Giftology.

That said, please be sure to follow forum rules and not solicit in the forums outside marketplace or spam via the message system, both of which are against the terms of service here.Based on your initial post, it sounds to me like you have more to offer than most so in my opinion, you have a better chance since you have the skill set AND some skin in the game!

Investment funds, Time, Connections, Skills (e.g.

You could certainly use your skills to subsidize your income while you break into the game.

So if this the skill that is so important, the question should be "How do I learn to estimate repair costs" not "Will contractors give me endless free bids".  

The clock of life......4-10 years in college or committing that time to learning and mastering a skill or collection of skills. 

They are a multi-family GC so the tediousness is going to suck for their sweet spot of moving efficiently fast but they are skilled so they can do it. 

I was just getting ready to post something to get advice about what is the best niche for me for long term passive income being that I have the skills and manpower to accomplish much for a lower cost or at least the same cost as someone paying a "budget" contractor (we are not a budget contractor from a retail perspective). 

The $12,000 budget is to pay a friend to help teach me carpentry skills and complete the work.

Really refugees can come from any walk of life in their home country but they may wind up at entry level jobs here even if they were successful at home because of  lack of language skills and education that may not help them here.