And you left the Triple Threat  establish a new term a The Quad Threat...Wife, Mother, Employee, and Investor.

RE is a relationships business, and often good connections are more important than capital ... this would establish you a firm connection for both of them.

Once you have established an honest reputation, you will also have that as an advantage. 

Their pitch, while pissing off some established neighborhood groups and affordable housing groups, really appeals to young people. 

Find an established ,  reputable agent who understands the business that you want to pursue  and make them a part of your team just the same as an accountant  or attorney .  

Gamble or Investment?

Which would help establish a larger network.

California is a highly cyclical Market and definitely not one I would gamble in.

The underwriting process is there fore streamlined much more in my mind because once a lending institution establishes what their underwriting criteria are...it's actually pretty easy for them to evaluate a deal.

There is a skill to logo design that involves capturing the identity of the company and establishing credibility at a graphic level.