Unfortunately, analysis paralysis is real, and we've primarily been looking in the Inland Empire instead of out of state.

What empire are you building?

Empire is built upon a heck of a pile of ashes.     

Our goal is to build a portfolio or as I say an "empire" of passive income to provide the cash flow needed for early retire in 15 years,  wo we do work on furthering our careers.

^^^I'm a mf broker here in the Inland Empire, which obviously isn't LA proper, but I have clients who purchase throughout the Greater LA metro area.

If your goal is to grow a real estate empire, then you will need a sophisticated setup and an asset protection real estate attorney is the best person to help you. 

Conversely, if you own rental properties in nicer neighborhoods, you will have smaller cashflows but more stability and less headaches.I currently own 23 condos in the Inland Empire, mostly in San Bernardino.

Congrats on your first purchase and your ambition to expand your empire. 

The greatest empire the world had ever known was defeated by a rag-tag up-start of rebels.

And guts the central air unit.Very quickly, your leveraged empire starts to fall apart.And here's where I come in; I buy your houses for a massive discount.