As much as you drive me nuts, you're a brilliant and creative thinker when it comes to real estate.

I want to quit my six-figure desk job and swing a hammer for a few months by rehabbing a small single-family house.  Then I want to sell it and move out of state.  Long story, but that's what I want.To that end, I'm l...

I think you will find the Midwest a fruitful investing opportunity.Here in Indianapolis, small multi units [duplex] don't really very well.  

If I died, skipped town or go nuts, you have a problem if you didn't get the deed to convey the property.

In my opinion that was your 1st mistake, " He who helps plan the battle never battles the plan" from how to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie, a must read.The above means you sit down with the trades individually and discuss there part and ask them what is the best way to move forward and as efficiently as possibly, they will tell you how to develop the schedule and plan, this dose not mean you do and agree with everything they suggest, this give them a say and respect and its there idea, so they think.I have done a few projects and I have never needed signed contracts with the trades, theirs more to managing projects then nuts, screws and wood, you are in the people management 1st and the trades are running there own business to make money, trust me that comes 1st in there minds.Mike

Great READ, I am so motivated I am driving my wife NUTS.

@Mauricio HernándezLong gone are the days of the low hanging fruit.

These are low hanging fruit leads from a ton of marketing that gets funneled down from virtual assistants and he handles the ones ready to deal. 

Video games are interactive, TV is mind numbing - but I digress) , and adding collective wisdom to my REI knowledge banks.However, if you'd like to create fruit from your time, here are some suggestions:1.  

I'm sure others have done it with the HELOC as you described. i just like taking the low lying fruit of what financing is easily available.