I've been into real estate investment since I was a teenager and helped my dad on his properties -- I guess it has always been in our blood! I

At some point, they will also catch you in the lie you told on your declaration about your role in the project, because you will let *something* slip.If you've found a $20,000 lot anywhere in the state of California, particularly in the most expensive parts of it, the first question you should really be asking is what is wrong with it, and why it is so bloody cheap. 

It most likely would have to be a property that you could do some sort of value add or some screaming deal that fell through the cracks and the more seasoned investors just missed it.If by being done "correctly" you mean the person placed a down payment on the property you will  get your cash flow, but it will never work out the same as the benefit you received while you lived there, unless you adjusted your numbers to reflect a rented unit to begin with. 

I had to drag my husband in, kicking and screaming. 

You do not have to pull out your hair, stomp your feet, or scream, simply discuss things with your contractor and if they feel they can guarantee their work they should have no problem assuring you that if you have quality problems with their work that they are willing to stand behind it and will take care of anything for you should the need arise.

Yes I realize I am a bloody realist LOL.

The tree in front just screams root intrusion.I've bought and sold a few true shacks for under $20K.  

Look at countries that are much more homogeneous than ours they still find reasons to quibble, why because that's what these ideas of political parties do, you cannot expect to get anything done if you want it done "YOUR" way unless your a fidel castro, kim jun il or the likes.take your time to understand that the only constant is this world is change and without understanding that and thinking that we can keep things the way they were or bring back the good old days are a pipe dream.My only hope for anyone ruling any country or a group of people is that they educate the population; with education anything can be fixed, without education we have people screaming to burn books, latching on to words that have no meaning and again i ask you ladies and gentlemen who on here invests their money in their communities and not just their nest egg for later.

(They can keep their version of heaven, How bloody dull would that be?)

History shows that it only brings a long, bloody conflict and the main victims are the civilian population.