Thanks folks, it seems like overall it doesn’t make the most sense to start an LLC for real estate purposes due the cost and complexity, with few benefits here in California.

Navigating NYC's zoning regulations can be complex @Jon Pflueger, especially in M1-2 districts, which are primarily designated for light manufacturing and commercial uses.

Unfortunately, Detroit is complex due to things being driven block by block.

I also don't have time to personally manage a complex like that but I have identified a property manager that charges 10% of rent to manage the units. 

My family was an investor in a Corporate Housing designated complex and it turned out to be very profitable.

I bring experience navigating complex acquisitions and supporting investor strategies here in Florida's Gold Coast. 

They do not like doing these complex forms and charge quite a bit for them.

Without a financial education - it's hard for him to discern which.What he should NOT do is to buy toys or spend it on fun because it'll quickly be gone.If he was financially savvy or versed in real estate - he could even buy a small apartment complex and self manage it if he had some property management skills.Advice should be catered to him specifically though, blanket advice isn't that helpful.

I’m sure they aren’t advisable on larger projects but depending on the project size and complexity, they worked great for me. ~$650 for the study. 

Whoever taught you that I would go to them and do what they did as this setup for an ownership structure in my opinion is far to complex and your CPA is going to be scratching there head at end of year with all the tax stuff they will have to do and how you have to keep bank accounts for each entity and move money form one to the other to the other....