Then, obtain quotes from at least three actual contractors. ( insurance and all that depending on the work)You'll likely encounter three types of contractors:The Super Expensive Guy: Highly skilled but often in high demand, resulting in premium pricing.The Average Guy: Offers good quality work at a reasonable price.

or scammed them on their application fee (like we're going to make a ton of money off those).

Either the property was already rented, or it's a scam.

With single-family properties, you typically encounter lower expenses, longer tenant stays, and more reliable tenants, especially in C-class areas.

Actual Cost to Build: For those who have built ADUs in LA, what were the actual costs you encountered?

You can see plenty of examples in these threads, where every contribution revolves around this same promotional angle:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/927/topics/1195612-the-...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/1136123-what...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1103837-which...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/62/topics/1156841-scam-...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/44/topics/1159791-what-...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1121289-has-a...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/44/topics/1159791-what-...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/32290-jack-bo...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/938096-land-f...Given this pattern and the sophisticated marketing approach, I wouldn’t be surprised if "William Ferr" might actually be Jonathan Halves himself, or someone closely tied to his business.

Between the contractor that scammed me and the break in, this project has gone on for about five months longer than it should, and I have depleted my savings making the interest payments all the way up until I have zero money. 

I THINK IT'S A SCAM.  

However, I’ve encountered various restrictions that make it challenging to find a viable STR property, such as:- Requirements for owner occupancy or a property manager living within 30 minutes.- STR limits like no more than 100 rental days per year.- Rules prohibiting guests from using lakes for recreational activities.I want to better understand if operating an STR in this region is feasible, particularly with these restrictions.

He is a scam.