I cannot speak directly to the Houston market as I am primarily focused in NH and MA, but I figured I'd share some insights and thoughts I have based on what you've said.First, you do not have to be handy to successfully complete a fix-and-flip, AND, you don't initially have to have any contract contacts.

These aren't issues that are specific to flipping and should be a primary focus for any real estate investment - The bottom line is that you made a profit despite the challenges you faced - and congratulations for that - but it seems to the bystander that you gambled with another investor's money while investing very little of your own - you put yourself in the position of a teacher or mentor when in fact you are not extremely experienced in the business of flipping - consider how you would feel if you lost a portion of your partner's investment....Today I am closing on the purchase of my 15th flip for the year, and I wouldn't dream of taking on an investment partner who wasn't equally experienced and had an equal say in the decision process.Good Luck with your future projects and Happy Investingjeff 

I could also do it as a fix & flip, but that honestly hasn't been my focus.

And, I'm attending a meetup tonight focused on commercial / multi-family!

Anyway - Were still evaluating these and it will happen, just not yet (and Im not looking to syndicate either).The whole point I'm making, DON'T loose focus on your backyard.

Focusing on one thing being multi-family is what I am trying to do at the moment so this episode reinforced that strategy. 

@Dumitru Anton, thank you for the recommendation, I do plan on relying on the military focused sub forum to help me with specific challenges.

There are gurus that teach a 'system' or two;  not being a guru myself, I look to help craft a solution to a particular seller's problem.Keep running the scenarios in your head and on paper to keep them in sharp focus. 

I am from Cincinnati and focused on Multifamily.

I am a long term hold focused cash flow focused investor, equity is just icing for me.