My wife and I live in Chicago and vacation in San Diego every year.  

They can't afford the double deposit, indicating they live on the edge at the moment.

Living in Iowa how could we pick our own papaya?

I'm not familiar with California but I know living in Florida, the closer you are to the ocean the more expensive it is to live.

Adding Square FootageIncreasing the usable living space of a home, such as by finishing a basement, converting an attic, or adding extensions, can dramatically raise the ARV.

If you have lived in it for 2 yrs I would suggest renting it for 2 - 3 years and then selling it to avoid capital gains taxes. 

It frees you up to focus on living your life and acquiring more property.

The premise of those opportunities are based on you living there for an extended amount of time.

I’ve lived in Cape Coral since 2013. 

They see foreigners as one-off buyers so they're not too much concerned about building a relationship or their reputation in the eyes of somebody who doesn't live there for that matter.