Laying out a gabled roof where all of the valleys slope correctly can be an art form.

Another may be by fine arts programs offered or how well their athletic teams perform or if they have great playground equipment or etc.I would think that each state has an online public access source for checking out local school data.

Looks very good.I would have a table and chairs in the backyard instead of that claustrophobic area by the fence.Add some art to the bedroom walls.

The Art Of The Deal.

Point #1 - Absolutely wrong....there are many reasons that a Tile Contractor will (and should) charge more - diagonal placement instead of straight, curved tiles, art/picture tile, really expensive tile that makes you go slower (like $100-200 SF), hard-to-cut tile, fragile tile, and many others....Point # 2 - I'm guessing that your 'helper' was not a legal employee, with all the labor burden, plus Workers Comp and all those niceties?

Close to LOTS of culture and arts. 

Personally, all other things are fairly straight forward, but drywall is such an art to do well, and so messy when done like me: overmud, sand it all off, overmud again, sand it all off...  

Do you know how to do this.[3] What should your partner bring to the table--because two guys just starting out might be "The Blind leading the Blind".[4] What do you want to build/rehab...and mini-mart, a strip mall, a McMansion, a down and out 1930's Art Deco High Rise in a major city (???)

It was truly a work of art.

@Art G.I know an investor in Texas who has done hundreds of wrap around mortgage deals.