In California, a Will alone is usually not sufficient to avoid probate. 

Cable and Sat TV are completely unnecessary.

And keep in mind that the rate on the 2nd lien will likely be 10-12% so depending on the cash flow it might not actually yield that much cash to you at closingMore importantly, it's just more debt so ultimately it sounds like you need an income-producing event to actually improve your situation and avoid some of the consequences that you mentioned

Depends who you ask and how secure you feel about your income On the one hand being debt free is great, but leverage allows us to build our wealth quicker.RE investors are notorious for being cash poor, so I would avoid thatIf youre able to comfortably save 100k a year and have enough reserves, I think buying leveraged properties is the best way to scale.You could kill two birds with one stone theoreticallyThey say paying an extra month a year towards principal saves you 7 years on a 30 year fixed mortgageUsing that logic you can add 2+ months a year on your primary, and buy 1 property a year and keep enough reserves. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

I'd suggest avoiding co-ops if you want the option to rent it out later.

Key Steps Before ProceedingContact the Loan Servicer: They will guide you through the assumption process and confirm whether an entity can participate.Consult an Attorney: If you’re considering title transfers or joint ventures, an attorney familiar with VA loans can help you navigate potential risks.Understand Due-On-Sale Clauses: Ensure any post-assumption changes comply with the loan terms to avoid triggering repayment demands.Final ThoughtsVA loans are a unique and valuable financing tool, but the program’s focus on personal borrowers makes entity-based assumptions unlikely.

Opinion, avoid historical districts...

And typically long term rentals don't make it easy to include property management fees into the numbers and have them still work well.I would consider looking into STR type areas where you can avoid the risk of property damages (str and pm insurance covers almost everything that they might damage) and evictions/collections.   

Again PMI offers the lower rate because its less risky and offers insurance to the bank.So when you sell your current home try and keep as much as possible and avoid an "All Cash" offer.