Nick,Success is generated when you create a team of reliable people.

If your goal is financial independence (having enough income generating assets that produce enough cash flow each year so that you can afford to live the way you want without having to work), then must first accumulate the income producing assets. 

http://www.redfin.com/research/reports/special-rep...7 attributes of the urban neighborhoods where the young and educated clusterThere has been a lot of speculation about how the millennial generation (ages 25 to 34) is affecting today

Welcome to the site,I like using agentpro247I use them to generate info for mailings, great luck!

I am also interested in generating some passive income.

Sounds like they'll be providing bids with essentially zero opportunity of ever getting the work (or getting paid).I know you probably think you'll pass the bids on to your end-buyer so your end-buyer may use the contractor, but in reality, serious end-buyers will have their own contractors and will generate their own repair estimates.

I would love to hear from more experienced investors and their thoughts about the current status of Bakersfield market for buy&hold strategy for generating passive income.

Like everyone else, our goal is to generate enough passive income in the next 5-10 years for one or both of us to escape the corporate rate race.  

You are encouraged to timeblock 3 or 4 hours a day to cold-calling and lead generating activities.

Before I answer your question (as best I can), know that I believe you should only buy properties that generate a sustained positive cash flow and are located in an area likely to appreciate over time.