$1633 for a yearly license?!?!

Start with the Arizona Department of Real Estate website and verify credentials, search licensees by entering their names. 

This will vary depending on if a handyman can do the job or a licensed contractor is needed.

Hi Kwanza,Bay Tek (650-204-1512) would be a great starting point, but I’d also recommend reaching out to Adler Builders (650-398-9030) and Mission Home Remodeling (415-855-7269) for comparable bids.In San Francisco, you’ll need a licensed General Contractor (GC) to pull the necessary permits.

One didn't make your list.1) I see people all the time raising money for real estate deals but they call it a partnership either because they are ignorant of the law or they are trying to avoid paying for all the legal work. 

2) Their contractor must be properly licensed and insured and we require copies of all this.

What trends are local real estate investors in the Greater Nashville area currently seeing or interested in?

@John Zhang If your wife qualifies for Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) and materially participates in managing rental properties, there is no limit on the amount of rental losses, including depreciation, that can offset your W-2 income.

I met this real estate agent on facebook, seems very active within the real estate community in that particular area based on the posts she's engaged with. 

This is why I am here and love the real world experiences and feedbacks.