So from what i'm getting, there is too much risk vs reward in a low money down deal, am I right?

Seems like a good idea, especially if you have a travel reward or cash back type card.

Most loans will have numerous clauses that convert non-recourse to recourse under a wide variety of circumstances.

Contractors can be a nightmare.Treat people the way you want to be treated.Hard work pays off.Flipping is not as easy as a lot of people think although it can be rewarding if you find a great deal and manage your budget very tight.Education is very important in Real Estate Investing.

Contractors can be a nightmare.Treat people the way you want to be treated.Hard work pays off.Flipping is not as easy as a lot of people think although it can be rewarding if you find a great deal and manage your budget very tight.Education is very important in Real Estate Investing.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Sorry to hear about your troubles, real estate investing should be fun and rewarding.

There are numerous investors, agents, etc. on BiggerPockets with experience in CA who would be able to give you a better perspective on the types of investments that work there.WIth regards to RentToRetirement, I worked with Zach and his team for my first property, detailed in the link below.

The other thing that HD does it they tie your HD Commercial Card to Shell for gas rewards and you can get 1% of all Home Depot Purchases available as free gas. ie, spend $100 at HD and get $.10 per gallon at Shell gas stations. 

Not easy but I think it’s worth putting in the effort for the rewards RE investing can offer.

If that's the case, you're bearing the brunt of the risk, with a lot of the reward to the contractor.