Are they always selling stuff, yes ... but they are selling products that they believe will benefit your business.

Currently, I am using a couple of products that I cobbled together to make my process easier (or at least it is to me!).

Jason,I would think there is a product out there for him.  

Because of that, we don't get the mass production capabilities like the auto industry that can drive down costs.

Competition isn't real -- if you have a good product and there are customers for that product, you can succeed.You get off market deals by contacting people that are off market and seeing if they would sell. 

Consult a good lender like Upen Patel to get the right product.

Numbers first, then neighborhood, and finally level of renovation/product.

The problem I ran into was finding a finished product that would command the price needed to make sense.

Figure out either an internet business(either dropshipping, ebaying, affiliate marketing, content creation(writing, reviews, videos, etc)(dude, start a blog now, put content on it, you put your story here, you can put it on your blog and eventually it will rank, even more as you progress your life improvement strategies))    ------    or start a super low overhead service business to start and run(think mobile/stationary car wash&detailing, cleaning service, maybe high demand time uber driving etc), or one possibly related somehow to real estate (if that is your interest)- like Landscaping(not maintenance-due to high equipment costs).

Personally there is no way that I would string someone along, fail to deliver a product, have them say forget it, tell them they are paying anyway, Have them say fine, I'll still do it, then tell them "to bad" I no longer want you and you are still paying.