Learn how to swing a hammer by picking up a trade.

Part has to do with the hosting (investor carrot).You are saying all contractors use hammers so how will these houses they build be any different.Its a tool.

Considering that few tenants climb up on the roof and tear off the shingles, or take sledgehammers to the units, you would still be looking at a reasonable profit over time if all of your catastrophe came true. 

(you may need a 3 lb hammer to tap around the cover a couple of times to break the seal) Be careful not to hit it hard enough to actually break the cover completely.

I think what this person wants is a TRUE unsecured LOC  that he can use as equity.. not a Heloc not cash he has in the bank etc etc.and as we know a TRUE unscecured LOC from a commercial bank is only for those with Stellar balance sheets experience etc etc.. if your just starting out then your wasting your time.. low balance credit lines like he spoke of for 10 or 15 are like loans you could get from a credit card or a thrift or that type of institution. there are NO unsecured LOC's of any size for those starting out unless your very high wage earner with a big cash balance in your account.. probably 3 or 4 times the amount your seeking it not more.Also the folks that posted about the small balance construction loan that would be very hard to get on the West coast.. most lenders have minimums so a 40k loan would be next to impossible.. and again a construction loan with no real experience from a commercial bank also is not happening. at least in my experience. to me this OP needs to find some cash with partners family whatever .. or if they want to take a big risk start stacking up credit cards and pulling cash.. problem most run into then and why it does not usually work for buy and hold is it hammers your FICO score and DTI

I've been a DIYer and renovator since I was old enough to hold a hammer.  

Problem we have had is that you'll need more saw blades, you nailer will need to be set so high you'll bend the nails when you shoot them (so get a heavier hammer!)

It made her more excited about real estate than anything else she has listened to and she also told me that it made her realize that I need to quit swinging hammers and we need to pay someone to do it(good for me!).

Don't forget water hammers could also being causing the problems, but you should have noticed them if that is the problem.

Ken Rischel and his company are working on an advisory board addressing issue for the mobile home dealers, I doubt the old Lonnie Deals will ever be approved as those arrangements were much to the reason why investor deals were hammered in the first place.