My chief complaint is the lack of communication and an actual project management plan... thats good news I know some lenders get pretty concerned when construction is so slow.. but sounds like a great deal and I know RTR will be there every step for you guys.. did not realize they were the conduit for this transaction.

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

It will save you a ton of money upfront and you'll gain the experience to upgrade to larger deals.  

You won't find a deal where you live for free, but if you can live in a great neighborhood at a reduced cost of living that is a nearly risk free way to get started in real estate. 

They won't learn those items until they actually do deals. 

BP has various tools to help you analyze your deals (rentals, flips, wholesale, etc). : https://www.biggerpockets.com/investment-calculators7.

Without more info this sounds like a less than optimal deal.

There are tons of deal flow out there.  

My question to y'all good folks: Do you know of, or can you recommend, a company or brokerage that deals in property management in California that I could work for full-time and learn everything there is to know? 

To fund your next deal, explore conventional loans (15-25% down), FHA loans (3.5% down for house hacking), DSCR loans (based on rental income), or HELOC/cash-out refinance if you have equity.