Honestly, this site and the podcasts are excellent ways to get a variety of opinions on a given topic to help you narrow your focus and start designing your business model.I am still on the hunt for my first flip <fingers crossed I am looking at a property tomorrow> but NOVA is challenge as I learned our foreclosure rates are really low.  

Currently, I am working in the financial services industry while simultaneously getting an MBA with concentration in International Business.

Less distractions and easier to concentrate. 

My husband is extremely handy, and I have design sense.

Very different home designs here then in ny so what i would normally do in a rehab there wouldnt apply here in some cases.

It's designed for big banks and online institutions to make quick credit decisions for the average consumer who has 3 credit cards, a student loan, a house payment, and a car loan.  

That's layout, design, permitting, dealing with the borough/city, etc. 

We've done deals that were financed 100%, however; we have 30 years experience, and are licensed in both real estate and construction, and do all the preliminary design, etc. on our projects, and actually do some of the construction as well as marketing.

I enjoyed my time there, and it gave me the ability to see the other side of contracting and design. 

I have designed hundreds of projects and been involved in many real estate ventures in various parts of the world.