In order to get hard money without a day job it appears you need to do at least a few deals first to prove yourself?

One of the best indicators is Jobs.

What type of budget should be set for a job of this nature?

If you have not flipped before, they usually want to see some sort of experience before lending you money.Stay with your day job, and rehab on the side. 

My father built houses and sold them, sometimes up to three at a time, while working a job as a civil engineer when I was growing up.  

Does the contractor bid the job for you based on your scope of work?

You've got 49 other states to choose from, and probably know nothing about the local economy, job market, real estate market, etc.

hello BP familyMy name is Stefan Chirila and moved in California from Romania in 2011. happy to be here and finally taking  my first action and come on board.I am 32 years old, did sport at the highest level all my life, I am married and Civil Engineer, when I moved in US I started working as a labor for a small construction company(didn't have rights, and not shame about that), throughout time I learned the language and got my rights and equivalent my degrees and eventually started to work in construction management as an assistant Superintendent for a very big GC, everything is good happy with my job with my growth in US in a very short time, but always had in me the filling that I can do more then just working hard and make money for someone else, always dream about financial freedom, never actually took actions in that direction. 

Even with flips, it still take several months.Personally, unless you have a commission based job or do daytime trading, I don't see a reason to track your network every day.

This is a single family, I assume, and is it common in the area for the tenant to pay water and sewer and also care for the property?