Nothing different than Brandon Turner's "No money down" book I guess...Concepts definitely aren't new and 95% of deals still require some cash, but just like Brandon Turner's book it simply lays out some alternative options to your standard "go get a loan from the bank" buying/selling real estate methods.

The most popular are Steadily, Proper, and CBIZ.

Also, the LLC does NOT eliminate any personal liability on the next loan application which is a popular selling point by ill informed DSCR brokers on this board (but they rarely mention the higher financing costs that come with financing in a LLC) IMO, proper insurance coverage is a better choice. 

I run a very popular Philly landlord group and I see so many newbies make naive decisions that cost them dearly.

What alternatives have you explored, and how did they impact your investment outcomes?

This is how folks get burned.I know Ohio has become extremely popular but it feels a bit too hot for me.

What might help you for the next attempt is to read (BP's book written by yours truly--The Hands Off Investor), and network (join a community where investors discuss deals, trade advice and observations--coming soon will be Passive Pockets, an offshoot of BiggerPockets which recently acquired the popular passive investing group Left Field Investors).

While opinions may vary, I rely on data to help drive real estate decisions and planning.Key ConsiderationsEducational Attainment: 77008 boasts higher numbers of residents with bachelor's (12,241) and master's degrees (5,739) compared to 77063.Demographics: 77063 has a higher percentage of foreign-born residents (41.02%) which typically indicates a strong rental market and with 76.86% renter-occupied versus 32.60% in 77008.Economic Factors: Median income in 77008 is $140,609 with a low unemployment rate of 3.37%, whereas 77063 shows lower median income ($51,899), higher unemployment (9.99%), and more families below the poverty level (16.51%), which may indicate economic diversity but also potential rental payment risks​​.Age Distribution: 77008 has more middle-aged residents (35-54) [8970 compared to 6,115] and a slightly higher proportion of young adults (25-34) compared to 77063 but both are popular with younger adults suggesting strong rental markets equally exist.Housing Market: 77008 features a higher percentage of family households (52.39%) and married-couple families (44.77%), suggesting stability and potential for property appreciation.Digital Advertising Demand: Houston Heights apartments (77008): 50,000 average monthly searches.

I could go this route, but since this is California, I'm wondering if it's better to get more personalized help closer to home.I'm also happy to consider non-Bay Area alternatives (with meetings done over Zoom) if anyone has a lawyer they particularly like.Thank you for any advice and recommendations!

The average income in the zip code is about $90k.The population in the 34746 zip code in young (median 38 years) and growing from 53k in 2022 to nearly 60k in 2024.Rent by room is not as popular in this zip code as it is in the 34741 zip code, perhaps reflecting HOA restrictions as well as building configuration.