I typically start there and check anyone in question using the other review websites.One of my handymen charges $40 the first hour and $30 each additional (he's so busy he's booked up until 2019 - no joke) and the other charges $50 the first hour and $40 each additional. 

As Brian mentioned most lenders will require 10-15% of the purchase price as reserves be available in your IRA on date of purchase on top of the down-payment, which BTW is typically in the 40% range.

When tenants give me a laundry list of little non essential things they want repaired or replaced .

From experience in BP meetups conversation typically comes fairly easy without a whole lot of moderating.

A developer typically will not buy a piece of land without getting site plan approvals, zoning, LOI's from tenants,etc.

When buying notes, they typically will not be in your backyard, so like any long distance investing you need to pick a couple markets and get intimately familiar with them. 

HELOCs are all adjustable rates, typically with no fixed period.

@Jaz PatelYour better to go in person than online as typically less competition.

Is it typical to buy out the other investors interest in the deal?

You would establish what I call a "Master Lease" where you essentially rent it from your parents and they give you the authority to "sublease" to a tenant.