I agree on the Steve Bridges book on multifamily investing and I’d also do The One Thing by Keller and Papasan.  

I just launched my first short term rental in Sacramento and now looking for new projects.I've identified a few flip opportunities of single family and multi-family homes and looking to make connections with general contractors and lenders for both conventional and bridge loans.Looking for GC's with experience with investors and flips.Thanks,Jon 

Alternatively, I was considering bridging the two units and converting it to a luxury family residence (neighborhood does hit million dollar homes) but not sure if the market will support the price tag (this part is easier, and I think the fact that the current owner who claims to be an investor himself yet hasn't made it work... this tells me it probably isn't favorable towards a flip). it definitely is not favorable as a duplex rental so the only way i see it working is to add doors.

The duplex is in what's quickly emerging as a prime location for people who commute across the bridge down the hill. 

But that's all water under the bridge at this point. 

In both cases, I would want to refi from a bridge loan into a 30yr and would prefer non-doc / low doc lenders non-qm etc…both have projects that are going longer than anticipated, short term hard money type loans coming due, and I’d like to just pay off the hard money to get that off my back.  

When I cross that bridge and have to see about my current living situation I will come up with a better plan.

If securing a conventional 30-year is tougher than a bridge loan for flipping, then we may look into flipping instead.

Aside from friends and family-hard money lenders or bridge loans? 

I take it you are referring to a bridge loan for rehab.