I've experimented with a bunch of them and found Direct Mail to be the best and most productive.

People with certain skill sets & assets have the ability to create better markets for their product.  

I even used wood bleach products but the floors still looked uneven.

Those are the people and institutions that will be interested in doing baby loans.If you walk into PenFed (I broker to them, so I'm familiar -- great jumbo products!)

Building code is also a challenge, as it seems to lag far behind our modern building products and practices.The dirt floor also poses a problem, as moisture vapor will be constantly coming up through. 

It is the most amazing loan product available to members and former members of the military.

Try to focus on an income productive.  

I would go with a stucco or decorative cornice product @Aaron Osgood

I'm ready to work, I just want to be more productive than just busy!! 

My predicament comes from the situation of living in one of if not the most overpriced real estate markets in the world right now.My goal in joining this forum and building relationships with the people on this site is to navigate this difficult real estate market in order to advance my financial situation to better the life of my family.I understand allot to starting in this game is taking action and not sitting back on the fence but I find myself in an area that doesn't allow for an ideal return on equity as far as real estate investing for flipping/renting for positive cashflow.I look forward to having productive conversations with the fine people here on biggerpockets forum in hopes of helping other people succeed while succeeding myself in the ever changing world of real estate.Cheers,Matt Bouwman