I also dont have enough cash on hand to hire a lawyer to go after the contractor at this time (I doubt she has the assests anyway).

If you just hire the cheapest or first PMC you speak with and it turns into a bad experience, please don’t assume ALL PMC’s are bad and start trashing PMC’s in general.

That doesnt answer most of these questions, but will be a start for you.My thought...hire a PM for the first one. 

You inspect, and then you hire a good independent home inspector—NOT someone recommended by the seller, a guru, or an agent.Besides, you might find out that you don’t like being a landlord. 

Since I personally always get the most out of conferences when I have dedicated time after to decompress, digest, and implement what I've learned, I booked a private beachfront villa with some friends for a few days immediately following BPCON (checking in the afternoon of Wednesday the 9th, checking out the morning of the 12th) just a few miles up the beach from the Moon Palace Resort, and we have a couple of beds still available so I wanted to extend the invite to folks here.A couple photos of the villa are below, and some of my favorite features of this place include:- Direct beach access off the back porch- Private heated infinity pool- Private furnished terrace- Private resort access- Wifi- Indoor jacuzzis- Private kitchen- Air conditioningShoot me a DM if you're interested!

.- Consider hiring professionals like architects, engineers, and construction managers to help with the process.This process can be lengthy and involves several steps, but with the right guidance and preparation, it can be successful.

Unfortunately, I don't think it's realistic that you will find a generic commercial lease online that checks all the compliance boxes for your state, city, and county.There are limited service property managers that will do retail tenant placement (rather than full property management, which it seems like would be overkill for this one commercial unit you manage), and this would be included as part of that basket of services.You could also hire a lawyer, but I think that property management company will be more cost effective. 

Just set up a nice place, air,vrbo and direct and the rest takes care of itself(considering you are investing in place where STR are allowed and have done associated diligence)

California: The Pinnacle of LuxuryCalifornia has been a leader in the luxury property market for decades, but specific cities continue to stand out due to demand and premium prices.Los Angeles: Beverly Hills, Malibu, and Bel-Air are names synonymous with luxury.

Obviously, multifamily has so many more advantages than a Single family home, but can have more barriers to entry.I would start by learning the business, learning how to syndicate and use seller financing, and then focus on two things if you want to invest in multifamily: Sourcing capital and sourcing deals.More units allows you to hire staff and create some economies of scale.