Quote from @Paul Novak: BP Team,I am looking for perspective and advice. 

ThanksSuhaib I'd suggest finding a broker, they have alot of knowledge and have your best interests as a goal, insurance agents have their employers best interests as a goal.Insurance in CA will continue to increase, its lagging in inflation and all the fires are affecting it.Many homeowners are moving to self insured.The fair plan is asking for 1 billion in subsidies, purported to be funded by the carriers themselves, I have no doubt Ricardo Lara will make this happen.

Someone is always looking to move, you just need to know why.

After getting married my friends moved out and my wife and I expanded into rental properties.

Life started moving fast as many probably can understand and I completely fell of track.

Recently moved to "south of the river", and would love to meet up with people from whom I can learn from.

Good pro tip is to not tell the tenants you're moving into next door that you're the owner but just affiliated with the property manager.

Check with your QI about both scenarios.I did have a client do a 1031, rent it out for two years and then moved in at the advisement of their CPA.  

I recently had a long-term (5.5 years) tenant move out.

Right now, you may be looking at it as scalable, but assembling a team without a track record is hard because some may end up being leeches.