I took the skills I learned there (tile work was my specialty) and offered those skills at a discount to a local investor in exchange for learning how he found/negotiated deals. 

Used my skills of home improvement savings a lot of money in labor.

That will build the skill needed to make strangers comfortable investing with you.

If you don't have handyman skills, stay out of this business. 

Hey, @Bo Cochran welcome to the tribe ;-)Depending on your knowledge and skill level it's alway s a great idea to continue your learning journey on everything BP has to offer at no cost and then move forward with their awesome guides and books in the links above.You will have a thousand questions on the way and here on BP, you can get more than a thousand answers.

There are never shortages of people who want to be in good school districts and areas of low crime. 

Not spectacular, but healthy.6) The demand for local, skilled labor is very high to accomodate all the develop taking place now and on the grid.After Detroit, I plan to buy in another market (besides California), but I'm focusing on one market at a time.  

that has been a job, but it has been rewarding and I continue to add knowledge and skills that I'm sure will be valuable later on. 

My practice is mostly in the area of RE (State Board of Legal Specialization is the only authority that can permit a lawyer to say they "specialize" in an area of law, which requires fees, exams, and a "pretty pretty please".)Attorney fees are based on several factors that have been thoroughly litigated:(1) the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill required to perform the legal service properly; (2) the likelihood that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer; (3) the fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services; (4) the amount involved and the results obtained; (5) the time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances; (6) the nature and length of the professional relationship with the client; (7) the experience, reputation, and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services; and (8) whether the fee is fixed or contingent on results obtained or uncertainty of collection before the legal services have been rendered.Like other professionals that are free to set a market rate, we gauge the highest wage that the market will bear. 

I am intending to buy a fixer upper home that is in needs of updating and repair and take full advantage of the skill sets of  my father who has already agreed to help me.