BTW...you can still do these types of contracts, it's just heavily regulated. 

If you are working with a person who installs these for a living they might be able to get a better deal purchasing the water heater through a plumbing supply company.

It couldn't be vented outside due to city regulations so I had a Condensation Dryer.  

It's been a while since I oversaw the rehab of my property so I'd forgotten much of what I knew about plumbing and heating. 

California does have a regulation for that. 

Thanks very much for your insightful comments, @David Oldenburg and @John Blackman, and for everyone's thoughts.With regard to some of the projects people are discussing, the crowdfunding regulations under which those are managed limits the ability to discuss the specifics beyond registered accredited investors, particularly those involved with the projects.  

He tells you he can't get started until his Time-Life series on copper plumbing arrives.

I do not see values going up, I see them going down, that's why investors here are holding off, yet there are many buying still.We got people going and ripping off the copper plumbing when a property is vacant and selling it since copper went up.

Our homeowner's insurance industry is NOT regulated, avoid houses that have had fires, floods or mold in their history, avoid the coast (not a problem in FW) like the plaque.2.

Are they regulated by the state?