You have a bunch of puzzle pieces floating about that may not be clear until you start to get some answers.

Is this too big of a puzzle just starting out?

The author has a puzzling way of looking at it.I can see his view point but, the way I look at it, homes come in 3 basic fit and finishes, plus we have location, neighborhood upkeep, and neighbors to look it.Regarding Fit and Finish, we can look at Basic, middle and (high end, which can go very high).A basic new home in a cookie cutter neighborhood is not as good as a 1970's custom high end home in a better neighborhood (Sales price will tell you that).it an apples to oranges comparison.Just my 2 cents. 

I am still really puzzled. 

All are very important pieces to the puzzle, so nobody should discount another's strengths or efforts.

However, would need all the pieces to the puzzle to know what else is going on. 

I also own some properties in Los Angeles that require permits to operate, and one particular instance was rather cumbersome to obtain.I can't believe that Chase has such a low limit for investment type properties, this seems a little puzzling to me. 

Finding a resourceful agent can piece together the puzzle of also finding reputable lenders, contractors, property managers, etc.

An investor portal is a major tool in the ‘LP investor delightment puzzle’ because investors crave transparency, updates, convenience of investing online, and reporting they get from other asset classes.The market is sprinting through this curve.

To me real estate is all about putting pieces together to create a puzzle.