I am a realtor and will recommend quality contractors but I cannot speak for other realtors and their practices.  

As much as I'd to apply the 50% rule, it is just not practical in my market.

Personally, I think that until the underlying practices (government, banks, large corporations and individuals) change radically, things are not looking good long-term.I saw a headline the other day that "1 million people applied for a 62,000 positions that McDonalds was hiring for"...on the bright side, there are people out there will to work for minimum wage...on the not-so-bright-side, most of them can't even get jobs doing that...

Is it common for bankers to make loans, for themselves, in someone else's name? Utilizing the funds personally?

While a real estate model is only as good as the assumptions behind it, with practice they can become hugely powerful and an additional tool to add to your arsenal.

The fact that it is a business and the tenants are your customer is exactly why I think it's a good practice to do something nice for them during the holidays.

California is where I work, so laws / practices may vary in your area.

It's a rare bird who knows every aspect of the construction/rehab process, is trustworthy and dependable, and provides high quality workmanship, AND also understands and engages in sound business practices.

It's always great when someone is willing to offer real, practical advice, based on their business experiences.

Almost every potential tenant loves them.Installing granite is not all that different from cutting plywood after some practice.