In my experience, most agents are lazy and don't put in a lot of effort (maybe they just do RE part time). 

I'd connect with some local investors either through the Airbnb app.. can message them as a guest and ask for a phone call to see their experiences and see if someone can send you their P/L or share experiences, and or connect with local facebook groups.

This is why I am here and love the real world experiences and feedbacks.

I certainly want to err on the side of caution in terms of investing in a pricier asset (at least in my RE experience thus far). 

It generally isn't worth the brain damage of experimenting though....especially if you want to move to a new home that you will own inside of the typical lender's seasoning period.

Sure, all channels can work, even seller financing or foreclosures, but in my experience, a well-connected agent can uncover hidden gems that often outperform the trickier avenues.Since the post is still fresh, I’m curious.. do you foresee other potential add ons that might elevate the returns even further, like corporate housing partnerships or short-term seasonal leases?

Some ideas I've considered:Equity Buyout: Having another investor or my partner buy out my 40% equity.Seller Financing: Selling my equity and offering seller financing to the buyer.Selling the Property: Liquidating the property entirely and splitting the proceeds.Does anyone have experience with situations like this?

It’s a smart move, especially since it ties in with your goal of saving for your first investment.For skills, you probably already have a good foundation with your sales experience—things like communication, organization, and dealing with clients are all super valuable.

Glad you have experience investing locally. 

The fire insurance companies dropped policies holders when they knew the fire was coming, in some cases, they're not even paying the full amount, and there's the case where some people didn't even have insurance.For those people who just want to walk away from this entire experience, is it possible that  morally-driven wholesalers can help them in a situation where not only the California government failed them, but also the Insurance companies?