i noticed though that the strategies you proposed are very different... an STR is a hospitality business and syndication is (in theory) at least somewhat passive.my main tip in getting started is not to rush into anything. 

She sent me a letter from Commercial Property Advisors, Peter Harris, which stated she had approval for funds sufficient to cover the purchase price and below it listed a Wells Fargo business account showing funds in excess of the purchase price.

If a HELOC isn’t an option, alternatives like a home equity loan, business line of credit, or a DSCR loan could work depending on your situation.

Even if you create a non-CA LLC, if you are managing the business from California, you will likely be deemed to be "doing business" in California and therefore likely subject to CA taxes.

This is after all construction in Los Angeles, if you've never done it before add 50k.If you have $500,000 in cash I suggest you use it elsewhere, this years long headache is likely not worth the 1000's of man hours you will also have to put into it running your very own team of scientists.

Same principles apply - being busy will create opportunity. 

Do you work with any specialty tax firms to help us small business owners get access to R&D tax credits, cost segregation and other specialty tax credits?

Quote from @Wesley Peixoto: Quote from @Henry Clark: What type of businesses did you do before.  

That discussion pushed me towards ground up construction, where I finally find myself today.

What broker would sponsor me considering I'm not intending to become a full time Realtor and give them regular business?