Highly recommend hiring a lawyer that knows CA landlord tenant laws inside and out in your specific area. 

I am curious if I should be talking with a lawyer about putting one or both of them in an LLC? 

Or should I seek out a lawyer?

My neighbor said on a face book town page - she was thinking of putting the house up for sale- She did not really did not want anyone in the house because she is a hoarder & had her special needs son living in the basement apt- with NO egress window ( against fire code) / I told her we could do the deal with lawyers - and save money on real estate agents (at that time the seller paid all commissions) How did you finance this deal?

Anything, from doctors to lawyers, from poorly taken care of apartments to mansions, quality costs more money.

Talk to a lawyer versed in the local law and know for sure. 

Well, the advice of the lawyers I've spoken with who are working on this is: If you qualify to get a license under the current legislation, then you should go ahead and get the license.

So I reached out to see what is going on and the manager I first talked to said, "the $550 is the eviction cost from the lawyer."

Again, I recommend you speak to a landlord lawyer to get advise based on your state laws. 

How to get a notary and real estate lawyer?