hi every one, just got my first under contract in modesto.it is a burned house. any one know a good contractor around a modesto..thanks.

In Amarillo where I was building previously they called this type of soil “Fat Clay” which was just a way to describe how the soil reacted when it got wet.

Big Fat No!

Hi, Jim in the process of closing a burned house in Modesto.

I know of so many CA investors that got burned on deals they couldn't control or fully understand. 

Just like any skill in life, learning how to manage your family's finances takes time and effort and they don't teach personal finance in school (which is beyond comprehension but that is a conversation for another post).My recommendation would be as follows:1 - Figure out your monthly burn rate (how much you spend)2 - Set aside liquid reserves equal to 6-12 months of your burn rate (more if you are self-employed, commission-based, have unstable work)3 - Contribute to 401k at least equal to the employer match4 - Research Roth IRAs and, if qualified, this may solve both investing excess funds and saving for children's education as Roth distributions can be penalty and tax free for qualified education expenses (and other qualified distributions)5 - Regarding what to invest the Roth, 401k, or a regular brokerage account in, you can learn how to come up with a diversified handful of low cost index funds (or ETFs) that are easy to purchase and manage.  

Back in the days of Machine Gun Kelly and other old-timey bank robbers, they would sometimes take the mortgage paperwork held in the vault with them while they were at it, and burn it.

In an A community the land value is high enough that if the subject property were to burn down, it would make sense to rebuild a bigger and better property.In a B community the land value should be substantial enough to rebuild the same property, in square footage and included features.In a C community the land does not support rebuilding, and the lot will remain vacant for years to come.

There is a reason Private/Hard money lenders do what they do -because they take a lot of risk and HAVE gotten burned when a Borrower has woefully underestimated the ARV of a property (for example). 

Cigarette burns: Look at the carpet, especially near furniture where people sit.