A skilled real estate agent is a great resource as well, as MLS databases to give them access to extremely detailed physical data and sales records.

And buying paper to reposition is a very high skill level endevour so I don't see that as passive at all...

If activity is ok and you have skills to rehab, you are likely going to create more equity the more you do yourself.

I'm not in that area, but, if I had to guess, you're probably looking at $3000-5000.Could obviously be more or less depending on:- Type/quality of contractor- Quality of materials- Access to existing wiring- Whether you are willing to do sheetrock repair and painting afterwards- Cost of permits- Your negotiating skill

When I buy a company stock I am buying peoples time and management skills, the assets of the company may or may not be worth much.  

Focus on saving and sharpening your skills at locating great deals.I was in the same situation a few years ago. 

Thank you all for your feedback, I appreciate the vital information given, I decided to put the $2,500 towards a direct mail campaign, as I continue to do more research and look for properties.

I'm in the early stages of developing my single family home into a multi-family condominium building here in Los Angeles.I've created a nice pitch for potential investors, but I don't have the skills or experience necessary to create an accurate pro forma for my project.Is anyone familiar with a company that helps in the creation of these, or is there someone here in the forums that'd assist in creating one for me, for a fee? 

@Crystal SipinAs @Doug Pretorius demonstrated above, the skill you want to develop is not creative financing, but creative problem solving.  

Thanks to my carpenter dad and current job, I'm skilled with basic construction and plumbing, so I have been keeping this house up to par.