My below recommendation is something I'd do only if I had these things in order...But what I would do is put that money into lead generation dollars through Google PPC to generate new seller leads.I'd then close these deals and either assign the contract to a cash buyer OR novate the property on the MLS with the help of a local agent.After that when you have some good coin in the bank you can explore more investment options at your disposal.And just so you know -- I consider myself someone very low on the industry totem pole due to my small amount of experience. 

Echoing some of the comments from others on this thread and adding that the LLC is purely for asset protection and limiting your personal liability. 

Although this is a long term investment and not in the main stream, it has added a certain level of comfort knowing the above potential investment risks are to a degree reduced.

I’m in the San Diego area and my husband and I are adding 2 additional rental units to our property. 

In the end, I added a ton of value by turning a headache into a dream home.

Finished basement with an added bedroom and enclosed laundry area.

The fact that you already have multiple units fully rented is a big plus.If I were analyzing this, I’d start by verifying each cottage’s rental history, condition, and potential for adding more units or amenities.

Most of my network hasn't heard of them or done any deals with them, so I'm reaching into the ether to find out more than what Google can offer. 

We have a 14-page management contract that we've added our real experiences to over the years, with the intent of protecting both us AND the landlord.

The more content I provide on a given topic to Google means I have better understanding of that.