EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

If you've already done that or have a smaller budget like sub $30MM, I go to the best neighborhoods in the best cities, and buy the most distressed houses.I flip the one's in states where it's hard to manage tenants or re-fi into STR, re-fi out with 1-1.2 DSCR in areas where managing them is convenient in landlord friendly states.

I had not agreed to any of these additional charges before the rehab was completed and was surprised when I was sent the final bill. 

You'd be surprised just how many people are living paycheck to paycheck. 

When calculating what you can afford, factor in these taxes to avoid surprises.

The house is a 1990 Habitat for Humanity build and when I poked my head up in the attic, I was surprised to see that the whole structure above the ceiling is steel construction.

Please let me know the most convenient time for us to connect. 

If you want to 1031 exchange to a property outside of CA, then you'll want to be careful about how the California Franchise Tax Board makes 1031s more difficult (no surprises there) when leaving their jurisdiction. 

If it was an individual there are a lot of uneducated investors out there nothing surprises me.

I'm not surprised, but checking ID is one thing.