I now read everything before I sign and I don't trust anyone.

I'm actually not in Houston now, I'm traveling fulltime, currently in Australia, but BP forced me to put something, so I used my parents' address. 

. * don't trust anyone with your due diligence.I have 2 properties that i purchase over 1 year ago and i'm finally putting 1 up for sale by the end month.

We don't always get along or agree, bit we respect each other.This is a long way of saying that instead of looking for a contractor who has the skills and the financial backing you might put a greater emphasis on someone who you can trust, respect, agree to disagree, etc.As for the listing, it sounds pretty easy -- especially in this market.  

Addressing the problems is like trying to put out small individual fires in a forest that is burning.

Personally, I just use tax records and just google the address.

Good luck brother and just trust your gut on this.

Of course I recognize the humor in that statement, (a hard money lender talking about good reputations) but I actually do have a good reputation and am careful to recommend only people I trust. 

Utilities bills normally follow people but not address, right?

However, it is possible to invest your retirement funds in alternative investments such as real estate, trust deeds, tax liens, private companies, syndication, private lending, etc. etc.