Hi,   I have built my own home did most of the work myself and don't have a trade background it went well and I made lots of sweat equity out of the project.

I am just reading Cathy Jayne Pearce's book Real Estate Cash and she explains how to Invest in property and add value by renovating.  The key seems to be in due dilligence.  I plan to also work towards this type of life style.  I guess it does help if you can do some of the work yourself.  What it says in the book is make sure you get your strategy right.

I also have a friend who simply purchased land had a project home built, did the lanscaping and made a tidy increase in equity enough to start two more projects.  He sold the first to do the next however intends to hold on to the next one just using the equity.  I am not sure of the tax ramifications. He went into it knowing the numbers and as the second block was purchased at around the same price it was clear the profit was not in appreciation of the land.

The advice in this forum is very good.

I will have more questions than answers until I get some more experience