@Danielle SpearsI'm no lawyer, but I don't see why RE agents would be barred from being owning a business.

Banks don't currently "love me" either,right now.They normally want two years of tax returns showing consistent income capable of making monthly mortgage payments without a problem.I just got started in this business and now can't finance a candy bar,let alone a traditional loan.

I'm a law school graduate who just took the FL bar.

Brokering is defined in FL as:A BAR SALEAdvertisingBuyingAppraising. 

Barring something catastrophic (fire with no insurance, construction worker dies on your job site, etc.), the worst that can happen is that you simultaneously go over-budget on your renovations, lose tenants and fail to refinance.If you have significant cash reserves, you will be fine.

If the house will sell with out staging because it is a hot area, I don't bother hiring a professional, I will stage lightly like the kitchen cook books, wine classes, plates and silverware at a sit up bar etc., bath with towels, fireplace mantel with my HOME sign, drop a comforter and pillows in the master on the floor and some stuffed animals in the kids rooms.

Sledge hammer and crow bar to remove the backer board and tile in big chunks.

I am also sitting for the Arkansas Bar Exam in July and (assuming I pass) will be a real estate attorney.I mainly do flips & rentals, some of what you guys call BRRR, also some of what you call "wholetailing" (although I just learned both of these terms, I have been doing them for years!).  

NYC real estate will only continue to go up over time bar any major outside threat attacking it.  

The "Learn" link across the top navigation bar has lots of great info, and most importantly, the BP members!