I also own a co hosting business but my rentals are in FL and TN. 

I define small business owners as people who employ w2 employees.

One thing to consider is that in terms of wealth building and Kiyosaki's Cashflow Quadrant, owing a rental and doing work yourself is putting you in the self-employed quadrant, not Business Owner or Investor.I think there are a lot of factors stacked against California for long term rentals, and I think you know it too! 

Debt Reduction - at the very least, another human being is paying down your mortgage and increasing your equity.

In several markets I follow there has been a HUGE increase in taxes year over year for the past several years.

Buyer preferences are shifting towards energy-efficient homes, smart home features, and open-concept designs, so incorporating these elements can increase appeal.

What about all the money we spend to build our businesses, run the business and market properties.

If you could buy it with a 15% discount: $60,000And rent discount at $2200 mo. with a 5% increase annually would be: $132,615 for 5 yearsYou would be buying the home at a 48% discount in this example.

We also have many unique buyer incentives where an investor can get up to a 10% price reduction to come into immediate equity, or get that 10% as a cash back at closing to reduce your down payment and increase your ROI, or buy rates down into the low 4s on 30yr loans to maximize cash flow.

However, it’s important to ensure the seller is comfortable with the terms and that the property cash flow can support the agreed-upon monthly payments.Seller financing can be a good strategy to grow your portfolio with less initial capital, especially if you're able to increase the property's value through improvements (forcing appreciation).