You can do some sourcing yourself through Facebook groups, and online RE communities , and even pick up the phone and cold call some homeowners that may be tired landlords, don't owe anything, and have built up some equity.With enough volume, you should come across some solid deals.  

If you buy a house with a $1,500 mortgage, you also need enough to cover taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

We ended up filing a claim with our insurance.

I’m worried about legal/insurance exposure and also just generally annoyed at all the foot traffic in the u it

We call this a resident benefit package which also includes renters insurance. 

Do they pay for vacation pay, medical insurance, workers comp, payroll taxes, PTO & holidays, ongoing training, trucks & commercial vehicle insurance, liability insurance, admins, marketing, SEO, liability insurance, bonding fees, licensing fees?

Update your insurance.If they do, inform your insurance company about the change in your property's use.

If you're a public figure, like many of these "gurus," potential homeowners can simply Google you.

Prop 33 will enable them to run as wild as they wish with rent control.Note that one sponsor of Prop 33 is Renters and Homeowners for Rent Control. 

To insurance salesman the answer is always life insurance; to stockbrokers the answer is always investing in the stock market; to a hammer the answer is always a nail.