This is the market to buy.Seller's Market I - supply dwindles fast, properties selling fast / very competitive, bidding wars start as properties come onto the market, time on the market is at it's lowest point, unemployment low, properties prices and rents rising, demand is at it's highest point, market will start to cool off at some point (can't last forever).  

Cash investors take 50% of whatever portion of costs they've supplied, so assuming that's all of it there's still 50% meat on the bone.

The scratch areas are where you'd expect: around the couch/bed/furniture footing areas.

Real estate crashed about 25-30% in market value in 2008 and some say that was the tip of the iceberg but it's hearsay and as @Simon Ruiz mentioned there's still cranes everywhere so demand is still greater than supply in LA.

And let's say that you have $15,000 in deductible expenses (car mileage, office supplies, phone charges, etc).Therefore, your net income is $85,000 ($100,000 minus $15,000).Your taxes on $85,000 would be:- 10% of the first $17,000- 15% of $17,001 - $69,000- 25% of $69,001 - $85,000That equals:$1700 + $7800 + $4000 = $13,500So, you'd be paying about $13,500 on income of $85,000, or about 15.8% in this example.Of course, it's going to be more complicated than this in the real world, but that's the gist of it...

In addition, I have an old storefront in one of my apartment buildings that I use to stock supplies.

Rinse with water, blot until dry.Unfortunately, a furniture stain is nearly impossible to remove completely.GRASS: 1.

I suggest you get a state contract, many office supply stores carry forms.

Most sub contractors get materials for homes from building supply houses, not Home Depot or Lowes.

I also plan to use eBay and some of the consignment auctions to see if I can get better deals than HomeDepot/Lowes.You may try to see if you can sign up with some of the local contractor supply houses that specialize in certain trades (electrical, HVAC, plumbing, etc).