Here is a scenario I'm looking at in Los Angeles County, and hoping to find a win-win scenario to step in as an investor to help out this guy out: High equity owner ($800k+), senior citizen, living off of social secur...

This is a long term play, so nothing to jump into tomorrow but if you can put all of the pieces of the puzzle together you can make it happen.  

That is what brings a lot of people to liking and buying in CA, and then the appreciation/equity piece of the puzzle as well. 

The rent control increase limits can be annoying but IMO they are the smaller part of the puzzle - what I think is bigger are the eviction protections and relocation assistance requirements.

I know it sounds a bit wonky, but the house is the last piece of the passive, turnkey puzzle. 

I include crossword puzzles and board games with my beach house STR/MTR.

The money part is easy to track, but the amount of work will never split out to 50/50, so you have to clearly define who is doing what and what each piece of the puzzle is worth.

The lack of new small starter home supply puzzles me. 

Values come and go... everyone's strategy is different.The second major piece of the puzzle is to determine an effective tax strategy from the START.

Puzzled, we've tried to even ascertain if the name was male or female which could help in narrowing down family member.