With the fires in CA, you can expect materials and contractors to become even more expensive. 

I *almost* did a bridge loan through them, but ended up firing them and using a private money lender again.

This is super helpful and I can't emphasize enough how this first sub-to purchase has been a lesson in "I don't know what I don't know." 

Hi Everyone,
I’m Brian, and I’m excited to join this community! After spending 25 years as a Software Engineering and Product leader, I’m now exploring the world of real estate investing (REI) and looking forward to ...

They're hiring PMs for a reason and they fire them for not maximizing cash flow.  

The macroeconomics are on fire here with population growth, job growth, and companies developing and building here.

Lessons Learned: I should have transitioned to larger commercial deals sooner.

She walked away with $1,500 in hand, and we salvaged the deal, netting $8,500 in the process.That deal reinforced two crucial lessons: first, title issues can create unexpected hurdles, even in straightforward transactions.

Lessons learned?

Sometimes new investors try and look in 5 markets at once which is like drinking from a fire hydrant and results in nothing happening because they get overwhelmed.