Most people can't even or barely afford luxuries like expensive smart phones (Android's) and tablet computers (like my Asus Prime) so how are they going to afford the luxury of a technologically advanced house?

I believe a duplex in southern CA is merely a capital gains or appreciation play especially in areas like Huntington beach, Seal Beach, etc because the cash flow will barely coverage the mortgage/tax/insurance in most cases if not probably negative cash flow and that's probably being generous with expenses and managing the property yourself.In some rare instances in east LA, inland empire, non coastal, Kern county, or other you may be able to find cash flow focused properties though.

For what it's worth, the Real Estate Commissions of this country are on a mission to shut down non-licensed real estate practitioners.If you cultivate relationships with a few key investor buyers and essentially become a deal finder for them, bare in mind that the Commissions across America are going to consider that brokering which requires a real estate license.Under scrutiny, a Commission is going to deem the Joint Venture approach as brokering as well since technically your Joint Venturing to find a buyer on behalf of the person who has the equitable interest (unless you can throw some serious money at legal research to find the case law to support it and even then you may not find it).

We were barely getting by...macaroni and cheese and overdraft protection on our checking account were our two best friends.Around that time my mother had no place to live and found her way to our couch along with my two much younger sisters. 

Both the 203k and 203 b are owner occupied loans. 

So far, lack of money was barely ahead of guts and properties(deals).

But now I am so used to it that I barely notice it most of the time.

The homes are barely kept up, and yet the rent is higher than anywhere else.

Also, this current crisis is barely over 1 year old, whereas the Great Depression was at least 12 years long.

I'm thinking a 10-12 gauge bare copper wire should suffice.