It should not be relied upon as your primary source of income for your family, it can be a great secondary source for additional money.Clean up your credit, you will need it to be successful!

I'm not in this business for confrontations, owning properties that have to be re-rented more than once a year, and doing the extra work involved for lower grade properties.Another investor I know has properties in marginal areas and has had them for many years and successfully manages them, but he goes and personally collects rent every Friday, he's a big guy and doesn't take and crap. 

They are working really hard because a family member is sick.

It is great that you became a member! I

Parents plan: My plans plus complete kitchen gut, new trim, new doors, remove fireplace to accommodate a new half bath and walk-in pantry(that one isnt as straight forward as it sounds because a beam had to be added to support the load and the entire house had to be re plumbed to add the bathroom!).

The report does contain some valuable information that saves me a lot of time digging up@Sean S.The information on the PCR report may or may not be accurate and should not be relied on. 

Sounds like where you went wrong was the same thing as happens to most would-be RE investors - lack of action.    

And if he's doing this as an LLC member, I believe he would have to register with CA (and pay the $800+ annual fee) for doing business in the state.

(I never want an active member, I run the show).

There is another biggerpockets member, I believe it was Engelo Rumora, who I believe started investing in the US while only holding a tourist visa.