These days, every MLS syndicates to sites like Zillow and Redfin, so you are likely seeing every house on the MLS on Zillow/Redfin/etc.

I recommend lining someone up before you leave for a 1 year term.  

The questions: Initially, does structuring a deal like that up front with purchasing in a few years make sense or dumb?

That will influence drastically the LTV and interest you will be able to get. 

I joined the Alamo REIA and the REIA has different scheduled meetings throughout the month.

If you’re using a mortgage to buy the property, most lenders won’t allow you to put it directly into an LLC—at least not right away.

As a contractor I had to work for money, be at the mercy of the customer, jobs and timelines never seemed to go as planned, only to pay tax on the money I worked for.

The ability to run comps is coming soon! 

I say you are VERY wrong.In my area older renovated houses demand top dollar on rents and I can find distressed properties or motivated sellers so I can buy at huge discounts for cash.I do not have constant repairs as I fix them up correctly after I buy them.House values are based on comps.

This is one of the things that sound a lot easier than they are actually done.The crazy thing I learned about these CA fires is that the heat radiation is hot enough (1500-2000F) that it will ignite your furniture through the windows.