An individual qualifies as a real estate professional for the tax year if [IRC Sec. 469(c)(7)(B)]—a. more than 50% of the personal services performed by the taxpayer in all trades or businesses during the tax year are performed in real property trades or businesses in which the taxpayer materially participates;  The rental or any other activity that you do not materially participate in cannot be counted. andb. the taxpayer performs more than 750 hours of service during the tax year in real property trades or businesses in which the taxpayer materially participates., the rental or any other activity that you do not materially participate in cannot be counted.

I would prefer to make an offer that fit my criteria and not re-trade multiple times. 

I am licensed for 8 specialty trades and am licenses as a general engineer and my company does underground utilities for hotels and cities for underground utilities e.g. water mains, sewer, gas, electric and storm capture systems.

This is also why the stock market can trade at a PE of 33 and still make sense.

Thanks Wayne, I figured its a long shot, but, gotta swing for the fences if you want to get a homerun!

Yes, this can be a bit more work than investing in stocks, but everything has a trade-off.

However, in this case, you are trading time for knowledge as opposed to writing a check.

@Bernie Neyer they have some of those domes in Arlington KS where my buddy lives - not much going on there - but they are ugly - I can understand why the city didnt want them in town.I'm surprised you can't get your costs down - but then again small town prices are way higher on trades and supplies than say Wichita for example. 

It's a trade off - fortunes are made in real estate though the leverage of capital.

I have my registrationFYI: NJ licensure is for the other trades most notably electrician and plumbers.