My piece of advice would be to try to take advantage of as much free education as possible with podcasts, forums like these, YouTube, and other real estate investors.

Interest income is interest income, unless you decided to roll some of the current cash into a self directed IRA at which point your interest income would be deferred for a later time and allow your funds to grow tax free.

I think I'm coming to the acceptance that I won't be able to just pop in when I have a free weekend and that I'm going to have to plan far in advance.

We've all probably felt a little pain this year with rents and longer vacancies due to all the inventory coming online, something like 50,000 units in 2024...so plenty of vacancy and free rent while those get leased up. 

Its free and accurate

Check out this table: https://www.municode.com/library/ca/oakland/codes/...This is what you're looking for: https://www.screencast.com/t/Xkyp3OZWkI Oakland, for a building with 3 units or more you need to have a lot sized at 7,500 sq ft.  --- From the zoning code it says, an RM-2 zoned lot can have "1 unit per 2,500 sf. of lot area"If you don't meet that lot size requirement you'll need to make a request for a variance, then post notice about the desired change in front of the building.

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Check out the MHU bootcamp by @Frank Rolfe!

Check with your municipality about how property taxes will change when you buy the place.

Feel free to send me a message.