I also read in real estate by the numbers that it's risky to bet on market appreciation.

My son just joined the Navy and now that I’m an empty nester I want to make a shift and bet on myself!

That average person given limited access to a property is not going to have the experience required to know what to look for.Yes, i would have a couple of your most trustworthy contractors with you when you walk the property and i'd film the walkthrough / take as many photos as you can.With a full hour you can easily assess most of what would be needed to account for 

@DeBret McGee IIYour best bet is to secure a deal with creative financing, seller financing or meter lease options.

I could maybe sign up with that theory if the GPs were using the side hustle money as a way of cutting or eliminating their fees & salaries altogether while they try to hang in long enough to hope for enough rate cuts to refinance or the market to unfreeze and let them unload at least at break-even, but I bet none of them do anything of the kind. 

If you are in a high fire zone, the California Fair Plan is likely your best bet.

I'd bet if there were a good field of competition the price would drop

I bet there are some ways you could proactively plan so the problem almost resolves itself. 

I imagine you'll have the same issue with the unpermitted kitchenetteIf you can rent the property as a MTR then listing on Furnished Finder will probably be your best bet.

Hell, I might be even-steven if we had one, and I'd bet money @Russell Brazil and @Nathan Gesner would be there with me despite the fact they're two of the smartest dudes in here because they're not soft pedalers.