Be great to send you my customers looking for a new home I work with a lot of investors Nationwide. 

Lending in the manner in which you are talking about in CA would require you to get licensed or use a license broker and therefore cost you 1-2 points which is less money that you can earn by doing it yourself as a broker.

I have an REO broker with over 15 years experience to help guide you through the process if you have not done it before.I'll work with you on ensuring everything the Am's are lookimng for is addressed in your resume.If I do not get you listings it does not cost you anything.

Quote from @Xuming Yu:I would reach out to Goosehead and their should be a broker in your area..

I sell land as an agent, I've been a land broker for 15 years, focused on Southern California, FYI.

Quote from @Joe Mills: You are exempt if you meet one of the following requirements:Owner-occupied buildings Properties with four units or fewer that are owned and lived in by the ownerSingle-family homes Homes that are sold or rented without a broker by the owner, as long as the owner doesn't own more than three at onceIf those don't apply, then you must abide by Fair Housing and you must make reasonable accommodations for people with assistance animals.

Let me know and I can set up an interview with the broker/owner. 

I have lots of local connections with contractors, vendors and brokers, doesn't hesitate to reach out.  

Tenants are your customers and relationships are EVERYTHING in real estate.2) I'd do one at a time personally.

It works like this:(1) Save up enough money for a down payment(2) Buy a single family home that you will Airbnb/VRBO(3) Ensure the “average period of customer use” is <=7 days(4) Materially participate (5) Cost segregate the property, resulting in large depreciation deductions(6) Use the losses from step 5 to offset your W2 incomeWhat makes this possible is that operating an STR is considered “non-passive.”