There has also been wide corruption discovered within the municipalities with several folks going to jail. 

Check out this link for the upcoming California November ballot --> "Justice for Renters Act" Essentially, they're trying to implement rent control state wide.

Hi all,I have a ditch which is 150 feet wide, 100 feet long and 2 feet deep in the back with a city catch basin in the middle.

This is indeed a widely debated topic amongst many tax professionals and investors alike, and an entire novel could be written on the best method to use.  

cast a wide net, get preapproved with a lender, and look at lots of properties in person. 

That's a wide spread. 

There has always been a wide range of commissions.

I am having land cleared soon for either 4 single wide homes or 2 doublewide homes.

It's pretty small.Minimum horizontal footage: At least 7' wide in any direction so it can fit a bed.

I'll handle rehab cost, management and yearly expenses etc...and would like to build a nation wide company consisting of low income-luxury buy and holds, fix and flips, commercial, development and eventually branch out to vacation rentals as well.