Just for curiosity, Is there a way build the discount rate up from the risk free rate, cost of debt, etc 

What curiosities and questions do you have specifically on that market? 

I've been reading old posts about the "real estate professional" status (of which there are many) but it isn't clear to me if flippers can utilize losses from their rental properties if they don't self-manage their properties (which would help them accrue "material participation" in the rentals).I currently work a W-2 job and have 17 rental units which generate a decent amount of paper losses each year via depreciation. 

In parallel to my day job I started investing in commercial real estate in Michigan in 2014, a year out of college, and had accrued 30+ units.

Out of morbid curiosity, if he was asked why he isn't paying you back, does he have an actual reason even if it's not valid?  

I think you are right in my needing to expect and prepare for future maintenance i am going to increase both repairs and capex to about 10% respectively and focusing during the first few months on building a bit of an "emergency fund" to cover unexpected costs if any occur before my capex and repair budgeting accrues enough to cover something like that.Thanks very much for your guidance!

You DO want to add the flip properties to your bookeeping asset inventory as they are acquired and accrue all direct property costs you incur until the property is sold. 

I house hack myself and consider it a great way to invest in real estate and slowly accrue property over time.

But out of curiosity, I'm wondering if there might be a smart/creative way I can leverage my parent's current home (which is fully paid off and in a nice area of San Diego)?

And I ended up upsetting a lot of people.Out of curiosity, how'd you verify it?